Manchester United arrive in america on Thursday as preparations for the brand new season step up and supervisor Erik ten Hag works to construct on a profitable first marketing campaign in cost. After profitable the Carabao Cup and securing a return to the UEFA Champions League in his first 12 months at Outdated Trafford, Ten Hag has added Mason Mount to his squad, whereas goalkeeper Andrew Onan is set to follow from Inter Milan.
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It is the following stage of his rebuild that he’ll hope will get United nearer to difficult Manchester City on the prime of the desk. Regardless of progress within the switch market, Ten Hag will land in New York — forward of video games in opposition to Arsenal in New Jersey, Wrexham in San Diego, Real Madrid in Houston and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas — with points to resolve whereas he is in america.
This is a take a look at the large questions going through the United supervisor whereas on preseason tour.
Signal a striker
It was Ten Hag’s precedence this summer time and it is nonetheless not occurred, though he will likely be completely happy the membership have introduced in Mount and Onana early within the window. United did not rating sufficient objectives final season — their 58 within the Premier League was solely seven greater than relegated Leicester Metropolis — and signing a No. 9 would make an enormous distinction to the squad. Established purpose scorers like Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have, thus far, been out of attain and so the recruitment division are different choices similar to Rasmus Hojlund, Randal Color and Gonçalo Ramos.
They arrive with an even bigger danger, however Ten Hag will know he cannot go into the season with solely Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as his choices up entrance. Rashford would slightly play on the left and Martial is simply too unreliable, particularly together with his health document. Ten Hag additionally must know what’s occurring with Mason Greenwood after a club suspension that has now lasted more than 18 months.
Determine on Mount’s position
The massive good thing about bringing Mount in early from Chelsea is that Ten Hag can have the entire summer time to combine his new midfielder. It is rather a lot completely different to final summer time when casemiro and Antony have been signed after the season had already began with back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
The difficulty to resolve is how Mount goes to play with Bruno Fernandes. Each will wish to get on the ball and be inventive, however Ten Hag will want to ensure they do not get in one another’s manner.
As a result of gamers are allowed freedom to make their very own choices within the Dutchman’s system, a lot will rely upon the chemistry between Mount and Fernandes, and the tour is the proper alternative to work on it.
Take a look on the younger gamers
It is uncommon for United to schedule a recreation particularly for younger gamers on a senior preseason tour, however the fixture in opposition to Wrexham in San Diego is an opportunity for Ten Hag to get a better take a look at who’s within the academy. A bunch of kids will journey to San Diego early, whereas the primary crew trains in New York, with a view to enjoying in opposition to the League Two aspect alongside a number of the senior gamers who’re in want of minutes. Alexander Garnacho has proven there’s a pathway from the academy to the primary crew underneath Ten Hag, and gamers like Kobbie Mainoo will hope to determine themselves as a part of the senior group forward of subsequent season.
Increase funds by transferring gamers out
United’s summer time funds is tight, which suggests it is necessary that some gamers go away in an effort to unencumber extra funds. Eric Bailly and Alex Telles are surplus to necessities after spending final season out on mortgage, and Dean Henderson is predicted to affix Nottingham Forest on a everlasting deal. Bailly has already been instructed he will not journey to the U.S. Ten Hag can also be open to gives for quite a lot of different gamers together with Harry Maguire, Fred, Donny van de Beek and Anthony Elanga.
If United can elevate £50m by means of a few departures, it may imply extra money to spend on a striker, or an extra midfielder later within the window. Ten Hag will wish to maintain a big squad, notably due to his want to play sturdy groups within the home cup competitions, however the U.S. tour will assist him establish the gamers who may be allowed to maneuver on.
Calm the dressing room
Ten Hag did a very good job of stabilising the dressing room final season after it had descended into chaos in the direction of the tip of Ralf Rangnick’s time in cost, and he’ll should handle his squad fastidiously this summer time, too. Stripping Maguire of the captaincy is the fitting choice as a result of he is not a daily within the crew nevertheless it’s nonetheless an enormous name to make — one that might doubtlessly elevate eyebrows elsewhere within the group. Sources have instructed ESPN that after dropping the armband, Maguire will think about his choices amid curiosity from West Ham however there is no assure that one other membership will be capable of meet United’s valuation, and it is doable the England defender will keep at Outdated Trafford subsequent season.
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Revealed : 2023-07-19 15:36:33
