Manchester United are getting ready for one more season beneath the watchful eye of Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman is now into his third marketing campaign as supervisor, having delivered a minimum of one piece of silverware in every time period. Their Carabao Cup success marked the primary trophy in eight years for the Pink Devils in 2023, earlier than beating crosstown rivals Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup earlier this 12 months.
Think about that Ten Hag has had points round Antony , Mason Greenwood , Cristiano Ronaldo , Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford to call a number of, it hasn’t at all times been plain-sailing for the previous Ajax boss. However with 2024/25 now simply days away, how is Manchester United’s squad trying forward of a brand new marketing campaign?
WATCH | How Leny Yoro Solves Man United’s BIGGEST Drawback
1. Goalkeeper: Onana to retain his throne in aim for Manchester United
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana (Picture credit score: Alamy)
When it comes to goalkeepers, it appears as if Andre Onana , purchased from Inter Milan final summer season, is more likely to proceed in his spot on the high of the meals chain at Manchester United this season. The proficient Cameroonian performed 51 occasions for the Pink Devils final 12 months and regardless of a shaky begin, fended off criticism within the second half of the marketing campaign.
Behind him stays the likeable Altay Bayindir, who made only one look in his debut season at Previous Trafford. The Turkey worldwide performed each minute of the golf equipment’ 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round win over Newport County again in January. We count on to see much more of the 26-year-old this time period, particularly given Ten Hag’s males certified for the UEFA Europan League with their FA Cup success again in Could.
Lastly, we’ve got Tom Heaton , who did function sporadically in pre-season throughout Manchester United’s endeavours within the US. At 38, it stays to be seen how for much longer Heaton continues to play the highest stage however ought to accidents mount up, he’s a useful third option to have on the membership given his academy standing and long-term affiliation.
First-choice GK: Onana
Second-choice GK: Bayindir
Third-choice GK: Heaton
2. Central defence: Martinez and who for United?
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez stays a key cog to Erik ten Hag’s plans (Picture credit score: Alamy)
By far and with out query, Manchester United are a lot better with Lisandro Martinez of their group. His transfer to the membership in July 2022 raised eyebrows given his comparatively small body, with Jamie Carragher rapidly ushering apart his capabilties to play within the Premier League.
Since then, Licha – as he’s extra generally recognized – has been great, when match, for the Pink Devils and his aggressive, combative fashion of defending has drawn plaudits from followers across the Premier League. He’s greater than actually one of many first names on the Manchester United group sheet this season.
Subsequent to him, who is aware of, Jonny Evans, in all probability not. Harry Maguire, perhaps. However for us it must be the subsequent large factor in French soccer. Leny Yoro. Having joined from Lille this summer season, {the teenager} turned down Actual Madrid’s advances to signal on the dotted line on the Theatre of Desires. However there stays a twist.
Yoro picked up a metatasaral harm that’s more likely to see him sidelined for a minimum of three months. FourFourTwo understands Yoro will not be more likely to play for Manchester United for a minimum of till December, given the tentative nature round his first-ever severe harm in skilled soccer.
If a deal for Matthijs De Ligt is accomplished in time, he might accomplice Martinez towards Fulham on the opening day, and past. De Ligt accomplished his medical earlier this week and we count on an annoucement to be made on him becoming a member of Manchester United to be imminent.
Victor Lindelof might step in to assist out, however his future stays a doubt. Luke Shaw might step in. Within the meantime, who is aware of what Ten Hag will go along with (likely the trusty choice of Maguire).
First-choice RCB: De Ligt
First-choice LCB: Martinez
Second-choice RCB: Yoro
Second-choice LCB: Maguire
Third-choice RCB: Lindelof
Third-choice LCB: Shaw
4. Full-back: Dalot to stay as Ten Hag’s ‘go-to man’
Diogo Dalot of Manchester United (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Proper-back Diogo Dalot loved arguably his greatest season at Manchester United in 2023/24, the important thing side being he did what most defenders on the membership didn’t. Keep match. The 25-year-old performed a whopping 50 occasions for Ten Hag’s facet and actually established himself because the Dutchman’s go-to man in defence, his once more, is more likely to be one other nailed on starter all through the marketing campaign.
Noussair Mazraoui is the understudy that’s seemingly to offer wholesome competitors after Aaron Wan-Bissaka accomplished his transfer to West Ham United, with the Morroco worldwide having impressed considerably at Bayern Munich when he obtained the prospect. He, like most, has already labored beneath Ten Hag, so will rapidly stand up to hurry.
On the opposite flank, it stays a three-way battle for the left-back of simply who’s match and obtainable. Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia each endured unbelievably torrid luck when it got here to accidents final season and each is probably not obtainable for some time. Harry Amass has shone when given his likelihood on tour Stateside and will actually forge a reputation for himself within the first group this marketing campaign.
First-choice RB: Dalot
First-choice LB: Shaw
Second-choice RB: Mazraoui
Second-choice LB: Malacia
Third-choice LB: Amass
4. Central midfield: Mainoo wants some assist… however from the place?
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
The brand new starlet of Previous Trafford. The shining gentle. The subsequent technology of expertise. It’s an utter pleasure to look at {the teenager} play with such freedom as if he has performed so beneath strain for therefore a few years. Kobbie Mainoo is one other assured starter for Manchester United this season, and boy how they want him.
The Stockport-born midfielder should watch his minutes closest given a heavy introduction to English soccer that noticed him function in each the FA Cup closing and the Euro 2024 closing within the final 12 months, however his accomplice in midfielder beneath Ten Hag stays a thriller.
Discovering a pure complentary facet dish for Mainoo is proving powerful and tried-and-tested choices to date have left a bitter style. Casemiro has endured a slight up carry in pre-season and can in all probability be Ten Hag’s first choice. Mason Mount is best enjoying ahead and Scott McTominay the identical too.
Bruno Fernandes might drop deep and assist provide however no one desires to see the Pink Devils captain at eight slightly than ten. Toby Collyer too is the subsequent large factor from the academy however will seemingly be given extra minutes to assist settle in. You’d suppose an enormous identify is about to reach given the hyperlinks and we right here at FourFourTwo actually like Sander Berge alongside Mainoo, however whether or not Manchester United push on with that deal stays to be seen.
First-choice RCM: Mainoo
First-choice LCM: Casemiro
Second-choice RCM: New signing
First-choice LCM: Collyer
5. Ahead: Zirkzee or Hojlund, or each?
Joshua Zirkzee remains to be ready for his Manchester United debut (Picture credit score: Manchester United/Manchester United by way of Getty Pictures)
One thing of an unknown entity is whether or not Ten Hag sticks along with his favoured 4-2-3-1 – we expect he’ll – this season and proceed to push on with plans for a singular striker set-up on the Theatre of Desires. Joshua Zirkzee arrived from Bologna as Manchester United’s first summer season signing and his introduction to English soccer awaits.
Hojlund’s latest harm setback once more throws a proverbial spanner within the works however given his spectacular first season in England, we count on the Dane to once more be one of many first names he picks in assault this season. Marcus Rashford has been tried and examined up entrance, so to the likes of McTominay, Fernandes and even Mount to an extent. Fernandes did carry out nicely there within the FA Cup success again in Could, so which may be a back-up plan Ten Hag choses to falll again on ought to harm issues pile up. Zirkzee has been described as extra of a ten, maybe like Anthony Martial, who carried out nicely in that very same function throughout Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time on the membership.
Ethan Wheatley is one other identify that might assist present cowl however his minutes could also be restricted given the high-profile names forward of him within the pecking listing as aforementioned.
On the wing, there are different points. Antony merely hasn’t carried out, whereas Alejandro Garnacho has been unfold throughout each flanks. For now, it appears as if Jadon Sancho is again within the fold – however count on him to get replaced, ought to he depart earlier than the window closes.
First-choice RW: Garnacho
First-choice AM: Fernandes
First-choice LW: Rashford
First-choice CF: Hojlund
Second-choice RW: Antony
Second-choice AM: Mount
Second-choice LW: Sancho
Second-choice CF: Zirkzee
Third-choice RW: Sancho
Third-choice AM: McTominay
Third-choice LW: Mount
Third-choice CF: Rashford
Fourth-choice CF: Wheatley
Extra Manchester United tales
It has been revealed that Manchester United have really recorded a revenue from the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka – regardless of promoting him for £35m lower than what they paid for him. United might but signal long-term goal Frenkie De Jong , whereas a shock supply for wonderkid Premier League striker Evan Ferguson has been teased.
In different information, Brian McClair says that Manchester United ought to nonetheless go for Ivan Toney this summer season. In the meantime, one former Pink Devils coach says he hopes Erik ten Hag hasn’t given up on his fashion of play .