In the two years since Ralf Rangnick warned that the Manchester United squad needed a comprehensive overhaul, Erik ten Hag has spent nearly £450 million to strongly rebuild the "Red Devils" personnel.
The arrivals of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui mean that there is no excuse for Ten Hag if Man United continue to decline. Last season, under the leadership of the Dutch strategist, M.U had a terrible Premier League campaign.
The 2024 summer transfer window is still closed and if Sir Jim Ratcliffe can provide more quality new players for Ten Hag, Man United promises to set a higher target.
Ten Hag has long admired Frenkie de Jong, especially 2 years ago when the former Ajax coach tried every way to lure his former student to Old Trafford. With Barcelona continuing to fall into a financial difficult situation, De Jong was once again considered for sale. This will be the best opportunity for Ten Hag to fulfill his dream contract.
If De Jong is successfully recruited, a miniature Ajax will be recreated at Old Trafford, with other names such as Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Andre Onana. The presence of the Dutch international in midfield will certainly bring great motivation to the "Red Devils".
Casemiro has somewhat regained his form in the recent English Super Cup, but at the age of 32, the Brazilian midfielder could not reassure Ten Hag. Therefore, in any aspect, De Jong is still a necessary addition to Man United.
Up front, Zirkzee will work with Rasmus Hojlund to score for Man United. The Dutchman scored 14 goals for Bologna last season and was highly expected when he arrived at Old Trafford. However, even the 23-year-old striker himself admitted that he is not an effective "number 9".
Meanwhile, Hojlund struggled to prove his £72m deal was worth it in his first season at Old Trafford. The Norwegian's 10 Premier League goals are a relatively modest number. Of course, at the age of 21, Hojlund still has time to improve his scoring ability.
Bruno Fernandes played brilliantly as a potential striker, sharing the attacking responsibility with Mason Mount. The former Chelsea player also had a promising performance after his first season at Old Trafford was plagued by injuries. This would be a suggestion for Ten Hag if he hadn't wanted to use a real striker.
This tactic helped Man United avoid being left behind by Man City in the English Super Cup. fast-paced players such as Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho also exploited the space behind the Citizens' defense well.
In defense, if Yoro and Luke Shaw are both ready to play, Man United can use a 3-man defense.
In short, there are many reasons to be optimistic at Old Trafford at the moment, but the important thing is how Ten Hag's team plays.
