Valencia quit Manchester United this summer leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needing a new skipper, so who could he pick?
David de Gea has made his feelings clear by saying he’d love to wear the armband, while Paul Pogba was stripped as a vice captain last season.
Ashley Young captained the sides at times, but are there any other options: Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic?
We take a look at the options and give our verdicts.
Matthew Dunn
The lack of leaders in the Manchester United squad is one of the main reasons that the club has been so rudderless in the seasons following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The seasons after Don Revie left Leeds and Bob Paisley left Liverpool, both sides reached the European Cup final. That was because of captains such as Billy Bremner and Graeme Souness – strong, strong men.
Paul Pogba has the strength of will to play a similar role at Old Trafford but he is too interested in himself to take the club who he serves by the scruff of the neck and get it back on its feet.
Somebody quieter, then, perhaps, but with greater humility and sense of responsibility.
Harry Maguire ticks all those boxes and that unclaimed armband is yet another reason why Ed Woodward needs to get his move from Leicester over the line.
Man Utd are looking for a new captain, but who should they go for? (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd are trying to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester this summer (Image: GETTY)
Tony Banks
With such uncertainty about who is going to be in the United team this season, who might be going and who staying, the captaincy is not an easy choice.
Not only that, but there seem to be very few leaders in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’ team.
So I would go for one of the few men you can guarantee will be in the team – as long as he signs his new six year deal.
And that is David De Gea. Experienced, world class – and so far, loyal.
Man Utd could appoint David de Gea as captain this summer (Image: GETTY)
Lewis Winter
There are not many players in the Manchester United squad that jump out and scream ‘captain material’.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to settle on his centre-back partnership and the makeup of his midfield.
Until he does that it is difficult to name one player who will regularly start and wear the armband.
Ashley Young often skippered United last season but is unlikely to feature much due to the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Solskjaer refused to rule out Paul Pogba for the role but that surely will not happen due to his desire to leave the club.
I can see Scott McTominay eventually becoming United captain and perhaps Harry Maguire if he completes his move to Old Trafford.
But at the moment I believe the best candidate is David de Gea.
The goalkeeper is set to sign a new long-term contract and is one of only a few in the United squad who has won the Premier League title.
Man Utd youngster Scott McTominay could be in the mix long-term (Image: GETTY)
Konstantinos Lianos
To me the role of captain is all about character; he is the one who runs the extra mile, preserves discipline in the dressing room, maintains his team-mates’ morale and is the one person everyone goes to in a time of need.
Now I know a lot about Manchester United players’ skills on the pitch but am not very familiar with their characters, therefore I am going to take a couple of wild guesses.
United would need someone with experience in the team who understands the demands as well as the mentality of the club so that he can carry on the work of other great captains like Roy Keane, Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Neville and more.
David De Gea is signing a new lucrative deal, which means he will extend his eight-year stay at Old Trafford, and has acquired plenty of respect with his skills as some consider him the best goalkeeper in the world – his experience and respectable character would make him a good candidate.
Paul Pogba was stripped of the vice-captaincy last season by former manager Jose Mourinho but the atmosphere was very different and worse than it is now under new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who said the France international is a serious contender for the armband.
Pogba’s character played a key role in France’s World Cup triumph last year and he showed what a capable captain he can be in that famous video where he inspired his team-mates before the final.
The star midfielder has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Juventus, but if he stays he should be given one more chance to wear the armband.
Bruce Archer
The captaincy is one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s biggest problems this summer.
The easy option would be Ashley Young, who won’t be a regular starter but won’t be looking for a transfer any time soon.
He would command respect from his team-mates and seems to ‘get it’ at a complicated club who have been on the wane over the last five years.
But he’s not the big name you would hope can inspire the club onto greater things.
The problem is David de Gea has been in dreadful form for the last 12 months and is two or three clangers away from genuinely having his place in the team questioned.
Paul Pogba wants out, has spoken out against the club, and clearly sees himself as the biggest fish in the pond. He would be a dangerous appointment.
The other options? Nemanja Matic looks on his last legs, Chris Smalling is constantly ridiculed by fans, and that’s probably your lot.
The ideal scenario would be to give it to De Gea and hope he finds his form in time for August 11 when Chelsea pitch up at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season.
