Manchesyer Utd Erig Ten Hag is set to announce the signing of two star players today at the Old Trafford Stadium
Manchester United are preparing to announce two star additions as Ineos continues to make their imprint on what looks to be a constantly changing roster at Old Trafford.
Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt, who are both familiar to Erik ten Hag from their Ajax days, will cost United roughly £51.5 million combined, and the writing should be dry on their individual contracts before United open their Premier League season against Fulham on Friday night (8pm). It is unclear if Mazraoui and De Ligt will appear in that curtain raiser, but their contributions are for the medium and long term.
It was evident where United intended to improve the most this summer. Ineos were ‘open’ to signing up to three new centre-backs at one point, but additional acquisitions are dependent on player sales, as well as searching for another left-back and holding midfielder to potentially replace Casemiro.
As things stand, Casemiro is looking sharp again, and United may decide to put their replacement plan on hold. The shrinking money may have the last word, but Ten Hag and his coaching staff must devise a backup plan anyway, as Casemiro will not play every game.
That would be an enormous ask of a hustling, bustling defensive midfielder ten years his junior. However, Ten Hag may want to investigate a wildcard in-house solution.
Lisandro Martinez, step forward. Martinez had previously been mentioned as a midfield shield, with Ten Hag dismissing the idea outright, although he did play there for Ajax on occasion, and United have players to compensate for a perceived lack of running capacity in that position.
Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, and Mason Mount all have an abundance of this characteristic. Starting with one or more of the following, Martinez would provide the necessary tenacity and passing range that United would normally lack when Casemiro is injured, suspended, or rotated.
