I feel if we sign Zaniolo (or another left footed RW) we shouldn’t play Kulusevski as RCM. Two left footed players on the same side of the pitch won’t work imo.
Play him at the center of a 3-man midfield, when having the ball he should occupy the space between the midfield and attack. Also when we press the opponent he’ll press a lot. Both the RCM and LCM can do the build-up.
In The Netherlands they call that 433 ‘with the point forward’ but I feel elsewhere in Europe they call that 4231, but the difference is in more the defensive duties of the CM/AM I guess (correct me if I’m wrong tho).
In that way, with Dybala as striker obviously, we can leave Ronaldo and Dybala in attack while defending and the RW comes back to create a 442.
In a 4231 with Dybala as AM it would be very difficult and we’d need somebody with the workrate of Mandzukic on the wing. Not impossible but I feel this is more healthy if we sign Zaniolo.
Ronaldo - Dybala - Zaniolo
Kulusevski
Arthur ———— Bentancur