Now that Mason Mount has arrived at Manchester United, there is a chance for Erik ten Hag to kick on with his summer recruitment drive.
However, things don’t seem to be going too smoothly. David de Gea has publicly mocked the contract negotiations that have reportedly seen him have one contract offer rescinded after he had agreed terms. Elsewhere, none of the players Ten Hag is believed to want to sell - Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, Fred and Anthony Martial, to name four - have been moved on.
The takeover by either Jim Ratcliffe or a Qatari consortium continues to rumble on, so funds are needed and a budget is presumably unclear for the recruitment team at Old Trafford.
Nonetheless, as well as Andre Onana, there are a couple of players’ names who keep making the rounds in the newspaper. We take a look at how United might line up at the start of the season, if they manage to buy someone.
Andre Onana
Stories in the press suggest that Andre Onana, Inter Milan’s impressive goalkeeper, could be the man for Ten Hag as he searches for a replacement for De Gea.
Onana was managed by Ten Hag at Ajax, where they both made their name on a wider stage. Onana had long been linked with a move to the Premier League so a brief stop-off in Serie A might make sense, and Inter’s financial situation is often said to be a worry for the club’s owners.
A fee of around £50 million might be enough, and for United it would represent the chance to bring in a goalkeeper who is far more comfortable with the ball at his feet than De Gea. It is often said that some players are overawed by their arrival at Old Trafford, but given Onana has dealt perfectly well at Inter and with his club’s run to the Champions League final, that should be of little concern.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Wan-Bissaka was occasionally dropped for Diogo Dalot over the course of last season, primarily because his attacking contributions were far, far below what is required from a modern full-back. He improved as the campaign wore on, but don’t be too surprised if either Dalot or Wan-Bissaka depart this summer, if not both.
Lisandro Martinez
Martinez’s worth was demonstrated by his absence. While Viktor Lindelof surprised by showing his ability alongside Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire’s continued troubles demonstrated that another central defender would be required in order to make sure Ten Hag has four adequate options. Despite his below average height for the position, the Argentine showed he would not be cowed and was an impressive figure in the back three or four.
Raphael Varane
When fit - not guaranteed - he was Martinez’s reliable partner in defence. If he can play the vast majority of games next season then his quality will doubtless show again.
Luke Shaw
Shaw may have resented Jose Mourinho’s on-pitch micromanagement but until last season he could not be trusted to defend sensibly. Under Ten Hag, he appears to have improved not just his decision-making, but his positional awareness, to such an extent that he can now fill in at central defence in emergencies or as part of a three.
Mason Mount
Mount might not have the quality of Declan Rice, but he has several advantages over the current crop of United midfielders.
While Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are of the required quality for Ten Hag’s ambitions, there is room for another bright and dynamic central defender. Fred, for all his enthusiasm, is not a reliable tackler, passer or goalscorer, and Scott McTominay seems to have reached the limits of potential already. Christian Eriksen, like Casemiro, is past 30, and suffered from fitness problems last season.
Sofyan Amrabat
With Casemiro into his thirties and regular a victim of his rash temper over the course of the season, it makes sense that Ten Hag looks to add not just numbers to his midfield options, but talent, too.
The World Cup last year demonstated the skill and fitness of Amrabat, Fiorentina's 26-year-old defensive midfielder. He might not have the poise of Casemiro, but he is a clear upgrade on the more proaisc talent of Fred and McTominay, and Christian Eriksen cannot match his dynamism.
Rumours suggest that first of all Ten Hag will have to sell some of his players, so Amrabat could be a late addition, if he comes at all.
Bruno Fernandes
United’s likely captain for next season is the demonstrative heart of the side alongside Rashford. His goals from midfield come at important times, and regularly, too. There are few players who provide such consistent contributions.
Antony
Along with Jadon Sancho, the same can be written. This is likely their final season to show that their best form on the continent can be reproduced in England. They have the technical ability and past examples to show they can be dangerous and inventive, but not so over the last six months. Ten Hag worked on Sancho’s fitness and confidence and got some improvement, but it was not sufficient to think the work is anywhere close to done.
Marcus Rashford
United’s star player seems content to make his home at Old Trafford for some time yet. The effects of public scrutiny during the Covid pandemic, and a couple of longstanding injuries, appear to have receded and last season he was once again United’s most effective goalscorer. If he has more to work with next season then one should expect a serious improvement.
Rasmus Hojlund
At 6’1” and 20 years old, the Atalanta forward would offer both an improvement and a risk. He scored just nine league goals last season, and while one would expect him to get more chances at United given their superiority to most sides in England, it is a guess to suggest he can be a credible replacement for the goals offered by Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, as Ronaldo reduced his efforts across the front line to focus his energy on goalscoring and little else, Hojlund’s energy would help press the forward line more effectively than the Portuguese veteran either could or would.
Compared to the other options at centre-forward - namely Anthony Martial and Rashford, if played out of his preferred position - then it is reasonable to think the young Dane could be a sensible addition.