Erik Ten Hag is expected to be named the new Manchester United manager, and he will have a busy summer with multiple transfers in and out of Old Trafford.
In what appears to be a summer of transition at Old Trafford, Manchester United is close to appointing Erik ten Hag as their next permanent manager.
Last month, Ajax manager ten Hag met with United executives to discuss becoming their new manager, and he is now likely to assume the post on a permanent basis. With a slew of players poised to depart, United’s summer is shaping up to be a whirlwind.
Wayne Rooney believes that Paul Pogba, who is out of contract, should depart Old Trafford, and that Cristiano Ronaldo, another former teammate, might be moved on this summer despite having a year left on his deal. Going forward, Rooney believes United would be better served depending on “new, eager guys.”
Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, and Edinson Cavani are also out of contract, thus Ronaldo and Pogba could lead a massive clear-out at the club. Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial have failed to impress on loan, while Nemanja Matic, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, and Aaron Wan-futures Bissaka’s at United are also uncertain.
Ten Hag will be busy bringing in his own players to the club, as the Dutchman is expected to be given a transfer budget before his first game in command.
The new manager is believed to be compiling a ‘full dossier’ on the Red Devils’ first-team players and has already identified a number of targets to assist with the club’s long-term problems. Some of the players he currently manages in Amsterdam are among them.
So, how do you think United will line up under ten Hag?
His first decision concerns the goalkeeper, with Dean Henderson vying for the number one spot with David de Gea. If De Gea remains first-choice, Henderson is likely to be replaced, despite the Spaniard’s struggles to command his penalty area, marshal his defence, and, most importantly, limitations in playing out from the back, which may see ten Hag overlook him (as has been the case with Spain manager Luis Enrique) and give the nod to Henderson instead.
Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, and Luke Shaw make up United’s back four towards the end of the season, and all four are expected to be retained this summer. Ten Hag, on the other hand, may be hoping to bring two of his current Ajax defenders to United to compete for spots. With Moroccan international Noussair Mazraoui out of contract at Ajax this summer – though he is said to be close to agreeing on a move to Bayern Munich – the uncertain future of Wan-Bissaka could open up a right-back slot.
Jurrien Timber, a 20-year-old midfielder who has already made 68 first-team appearances for the Amsterdam giants, might be an outstanding choice for United. Mirror Football believes that ten Hag sees the six-time Netherlands international as someone who can quickly improve the Red Devils’ defensive issues.
Phillips is regarded to be the most likely acquisition in United’s long-running hunt for a central midfielder, with Declan Rice being priced out of a move and Ruben Neves also a possibility. With Scott McTominay vying for a starting berth in United’s midfield, the current Leeds midfielder may be the ideal holding partner for Fred.
In attack, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga are expected to be regular starters next season, with Marcus Rashford hoping to reclaim his form – and Bruno Fernandes ready to play a key role once more. However, with the expected departures of Cavani and Ronaldo, the club will be on the lookout for new talent.
Darwin Nunez, a striker for Benfica and a Uruguay international, has already scored 27 goals this season and has been the club’s best player. Due to his potential, the 22-year-old has been linked with some of Europe’s best clubs winning goal against ten Hag’s Ajax.
Anthony, who has 12 goals and 10 assists in 30 games under ten Hag this season, could be another option for United. After joining from Sao Paulo two years ago, the 22-year-old is one of Europe’s most intriguing young attacking players, having already scored two goals in nine Brazil international appearances. This summer, United will undergo significant changes, with a new appearance predicted.