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Manchester United are closing in on completing the double transfer of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui which could lead to a brand new formation change.
The transfer window hasn’t been quite as exciting as anticipated so far in Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his new board’s first summer at the helm at Manchester United.
Only striker Joshua Zirkzee and teenage centre-back Leny Yoro have been signed so far but that will soon change after things finally stepped up a gear this week.
United will pay an initial £38.6m for the Dutch centre-back while his Bayern teammate will arrive for an upfront fee of £12.8m.
That’s unusually fantastic business for United, who have signed two experienced and quality defenders for a smaller fee than the £70m price tag Everton put on the head of Jarrad Branthwaite.
Not only does the impending double signing bring much-needed defensive reinforcements to the squad but it gives Erik ten Hag some new tactical flexibility in how he lines up his side.
With more defenders at his disposal, the manager could even implement a formation change to 3-5-2.
New look Manchester United defence with De Ligt and Yoro
When De Ligt arrives, that will be two new centre-backs signed this summer which were desperately needed after last year’s injury crisis.
United were often down to the bare bones in defence, forcing veteran Jonny Evans to play far more than anticipated so quality additions were a must.
The injury bug has already bitten again with Yoro out for three months after fracturing his metatarsal but, when he is fit, Ten Hag will have the capability to play a solid back three.
Yoro and Lisandro Martinez, with their pace and quality on the ball, could play on the right and left, respectively, with De Ligt being the solid rock in the middle to stitch it together.
That has the makings of a balanced and quality defence with the ability to build up from the back, push up the field and dig in deep when required.
Backup Harry Maguire has proven time and again he’s comfortable in a back three, too.
Mazraoui could be a wing-back for Utd
In Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and soon-to-be Mazraoui, United have three full-backs who love to bomb forward on the flanks, create overloads and deliver balls into the box.
Ten Hag wants his full-backs to be progressive and dynamic on the ball to help push his team up the field and he may now finally have the personnel to do so.
Like Yoro, Shaw is currently sidelined after a terrible run of luck in 2024 but, thankfully, Mazraoui is just as capable of playing on the left as he has proven while representing Morocco.
When Shaw is fit, it would be between Dalot and Mazraoui for the starting spot on the right.
In the middle, Kobbie Mainoo is a guaranteed starter and it looks as if Casemiro will be his partner to start the campaign.
Casemiro looked rejuvenated in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City which bodes well but United may still look to add another defensive midfielder before the window closes.
An exciting forward line led by Alejandro Garnacho
The captain will obviously be in the creative midfield role and will be for years to come as Bruno Fernandes is set to sign a new contract at Old Trafford.
United have plenty of options to lead the two-man strike force ahead of him now, too, following the arrival of Zirkzee.
Rasmus Hojlund will be a starter when he recovers from injury but at present, it would be between the Dutchman and Marcus Rashford for one of the spots.
The other, of course, would be Alejandro Garnacho’s. Though a winger by trade, the Argentine starlet has shown remarkable composure in his finishing and would have no trouble playing in a more central attacking position.
Ten Hag has utilised a back-three in the past, especially when injuries have hit particularly hard, but now he has the resources to make it a viable tactical set-up he goes to willingly rather than uses as a last resort.
United XI in 3-5-2: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Mazraoui, Mainoo, Casemiro, Shaw; Fernandes; Hojlund, Garnacho.
