Man Utd transfers: How Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui complement Erik ten Hag’s new-look defence | Football News

Manchester United had two important goals for reinforcing their defence this summer season: To reinforce the metal of it – particularly in duels – and to alter the dynamic. 

The coup of ousting Actual Madrid to land Leny Yoro added further athleticism, aerial risk and a technical ball-winner tipped to become one of many premier centre-backs within the sport.

{The teenager} struggling a fractured metatarsal within the opening pre-season sport of the US tour was vastly unlucky, however United have signed him for the long run, not simply the primary few months of the season.

Even earlier than that setback, the membership meant so as to add at the very least yet another possibility within the coronary heart of defence – which was ravaged by accidents final trip – but additionally lacked steadiness and progressive attributes.

Matthijs de Ligt had been proposed to Erik ten Hag – who wished him in his first summer season at Previous Trafford – by United’s recalibrated recruitment crew as a goal to lift their bodily and technical ceiling; the person to dominate defensive duels.

The composed stopper is considered as an excellent foil for the aggressive, instinctive Lisandro Martinez; steadiness on the correct and left, but additionally in strategy.

At 25, De Ligt’s scale of expertise in numerous environments of excessive expectation, pure management and his capability to implement Ten Hag’s fashion of play made him interesting.

There’s a feeling his strengths weren’t maximised at Bayern Munich, who’ve been in flux, and that his profile plus angle will likely be a lift to United.

Maybe probably the most instructive transfer to showcase the change of dynamic is switching out Aaron Wan-Bissaka – a one-vs-one defensive specialist – for the highly-technical, two-footed Noussair Mazraoui.

Additionally recruited from Bayern, he can cowl each full-back positions, is press-resistant and higher suited to constructing play.

Mazraoui – successfully paid for by Wan-Bissaka’s exit to West Ham – was one of many key cogs of Ten Hag’s profitable Ajax aspect, the place he helped convey out one of the best of Antony’s sport.

There will likely be pure cynicism that this continues United’s coverage of shopping for who the supervisor is conversant in fairly than constructing in direction of a membership id.

The counter will likely be that, by including progressive gamers that provide a assorted dynamic, United are literally recruiting for the sport mannequin they’re dedicated to.

The distinction is that Ten Hag isn’t driving recruitment, as was the case earlier than the brand new soccer management crew was in situ.

Targets have been proposed to him primarily based on their suitability to the fashion of play, their availability in the marketplace and the chance to truly get a deal over the road – financially and logistically.

Victor Lindelof may nonetheless go away earlier than the window closes and the addition of a left-sided defender stays open.

United have been extra proactive and methodical of their recruitment this summer season, however there’s nonetheless work to do past the rearguard – particularly in midfield.