Man Utd may have got better signing than Frenkie de Jong in new boy Mason Mount

When Erik ten Hag first moved to Old Trafford the one player he wanted alongside him was his former Ajax midfielder Frankie de Jong. Much to the new Manchester United manager’s frustration it was a transfer that never came off despite multiple attempts to prise him away from the Nou Camp.

Yet in securing Mason Mount for a fee that could rise to £60million with £55m up front and £5m in add-ons, Ten Hag can now console himself that he may have secured something better. Because at 24, Mount hits the sweet spot of youth and experience to be able to have his best years at Old Trafford.

And in Ten Hag he has a manager who has come round to the thought that Mount can transform the way United play next season and beyond. United’s priorities remain a goalkeeper and a striker and suggestions are that David de Gea is on his way out of the club with the Andre Onana favourite to replace him.

But Ten Hag believes that a midfield which looked in transition last season was in need of some dynamic star quality and Mount can provide it. Casemiro has been a huge success as a quality defensive midfielder but at 31 has his best years are behind not in front.

Christian Eriksen is also 31 and for all his distributional qualities has tended to fade out of games physically. With Fred and Scott McTominay being allowed to leave and Donny van de Beek having slipped down the pecking order, Mount’s arrival is timely.

Ironically Van de Beek was the forward momentum in Ten Hag’s midfield three at Ajax in their best season in 2018-19 yet it is Mount who could fulfil that role at United. Mount has been hugely valued by every manager he has worked with.

Frank Lampard took him to Derby on loan and always talked of him as a future Chelsea captain, Thomas Tuchel wanted to take him to Bayern Munich and Gareth Southgate loves his versatility. Technically very good, Mount has the talent to cover two forward positions in a three midfield and the adaptability to play all three forward positions across the front as well as a false nine.

Goalscoring is not his strongest suit with 33 goals in 195 appearances for Chelsea but United have others for that. What he will do is allow Ten Hag to move more towards the successful 4-3-3 system he employed at Ajax.

He will also cover a host of positions from midfield to the front line. Ten Hag did not get De Jong but United are banking on their £60m man showing them they were right to wait.