If Solskjaer signs Haaland, Bellingham, and Rice: What will Manchester United be like in 2025?
Amorim deployed Haaland as the number 9, Bellingham as the number 8 in attack, and Rice to balance the midfield. With 143 goals in 161 games for Haaland and nearly 70 goals from Bellingham, MU could compete for the championship.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice as he wishes, how will Manchester United function under Ruben Amorim in 2025? In this "what if" scenario, Haaland would play as a number 9, Bellingham as an attacking number 8, and Rice as a midfield balancer. Based on Haaland's 143 goals in 161 appearances for Man City and Bellingham's nearly 70 club goals at the age of 22, that would be enough of a foundation for MU to compete for titles.
The starting point of the story
The Norwegian manager's reign ended after a 1-4 defeat at Watford. From that, MU learned many lessons, including the fact that Ed Woodward failed to bring in the players Solskjaer most desired.
Solskjaer has openly expressed his desire for a top-class striker and a central midfielder. He pursued Erling Haaland twice but missed out on both opportunities. Speaking about Haaland, Solskjaer said: “I told the club immediately. Buy him. Immediately.”
Regarding Jude Bellingham, the English midfielder visited Carrington, but the deal fell through. Solskjaer once shared: “Jude was right there in the building. He’s the kind of midfielder you couldn’t ask for more… He’s the most mature 17-year-old I’ve ever met.”
Regarding Declan Rice, Solskjaer revealed in an interview with The Overlap that he wanted to bring him in before the player chose Arsenal: “We talked about him a few times. I think Rice would help the MU midfield a lot. His ability to cover the whole pitch is what the team needs.” Ultimately, the only midfielder MU brought in under Solskjaer was Donny van de Beek.
If we sign Haaland, Bellingham, and Rice: the picture for 2025.
How Ruben Amorim assembled the trio
In Ruben Amorim's system, Haaland is the first-choice striker. With 143 goals in 161 games for Man City, those goals in a red shirt would significantly change MU's attacking axis.
Bellingham, at the age of 22, had already scored nearly 70 goals at club level, fitting the role of an "attacking number 8" – a position requiring movement into the final third of the pitch and the ability to finish late from the second line.
Rice provides the balance that Amorim sought for Bruno Fernandes: intercepting passes, covering space, and shielding the area when the supporting players push forward. This trio are all key players at their clubs, in the Champions League, and for their national teams, enough to raise Manchester United's competitive standards.
| Player | Expected role | Featured data |
|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Number 9 | 143 goals in 161 matches for Man City |
| Jude Bellingham | Number 8 attacks | Nearly 70 club goals by the age of 22. |
| Declan Rice | Balanced central midfielder | Bruno Fernandes' ability to cover the entire field and provide balance is key. |
Tempo and drop point
With Haaland as the central striker, Bellingham making runs to score, and Rice controlling possession, MU has the basis to play more directly while maintaining structure during transitions. This picture aligns with Amorim's vision of a compact and effective team in the opponent's half.
The current Manchester United compared to the ideal scenario.
In fact, MU sold Scott McTominay – the closest player to Bellingham could fill in an attacking role from midfield. This past summer, they brought in Matheus Cunha, a different type of player but one who can make an impact in the final third of the pitch.
In the striker position, Haaland is a rare case. MU once bet on Rasmus Hojlund but failed. Benjamin Sesko is a young, promising option, but there is still a big gap in performance compared to Haaland.
The midfield has been strengthened by Casemiro since 2022. He made an immediate impact and is currently in excellent form, but is entering the final year of his contract. If Manchester United acquire Rice, they will have a long-term solution instead of having to spend heavily again in 2026.
Potential impacts and unanswered questions
With the trio of Haaland, Bellingham, and Rice, MU "could absolutely become a team that truly competes for the championship." However, it's difficult to say whether Solskjaer can last until 2025 even if those dream signings materialize. What is certain is that the tactical picture under Ruben Amorim will be clear: a high-performing center forward, a prolific number 8, and a balanced defensive midfielder – pieces that can elevate the overall quality of the team.
