Manchester United have had a successful Premier League season under Erik ten Hag, returning to the Champions League after their absence from the competition this season. However, the Dutchman has already indicated standards must be raised if the Red Devils are to win a first crown since 2013 next season. So Express Sport now takes a look at how the 53-year-old’s side could look at the beginning of the 2023/2024 campaign with four new signings.
Goalkeeper: De Gea
United are yet to tie David De Gea down to a new deal, meaning the veteran can technically leave for free this summer.
However, there’s still an expectancy the Spain international will stay and extend his stay with the club.
De Gea made some big errors for the club last season, with blunders against Brentford and West Ham particularly memorable.
But he’s still one of the very best goalkeepers in world football, with his Golden Glove award proof of that.
De Gea should, therefore, be Ten Hag’s No 1 next season – though it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Dean Henderson…
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Defence: Frimpong, Kim, Martinez, Shaw
United have strong interest in Jeremie Frimpong, who impressed for Bayer Leverkusen as they finished sixth in the Bundesliga table.
And he could arrive in the summer, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future up in the air.
United have seen Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane strike up a good partnership at centre-back this season.
But they’re admirers of Kim Min-jae, with reports in Italy insisting a deal for the South Korea international is close.
If signed, he’d go alongside Martinez – with Luke Shaw then keeping his place at left-back.
Midfield: Mount, Casemiro, Fernandes
United are growing increasingly confident they’ll be able to lure Mason Mount away from Chelsea.
The England international is yet to agree a new deal with the Blues, meaning they face selling him this summer or losing him for nothing in a year.
And Mount would be a good player to go alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park.
Signing the 24-year-old won’t be cheap amid claims the Blues will look for a fee in the region of £55million.
But United are hoping to drive that fee down, with Mount potentially set to follow in the footsteps of Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic by swapping Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford.
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Forwards: Antony, Kane, Rashford
It’s an open secret that United want to sign Harry Kane.
The Tottenham star has continued to shine for his club despite Spurs experiencing a nightmare campaign.
Kane won’t be easy to land but, if the Red Devils agree to cough up an amount in the region of £100m, it’s possible he’ll jump ship.
Antony can expect to start most matches on the right wing, just like last season.
And nobody will be displacing Marcus Rashford from the side any time soon after his sensational performances this season.
What has Ten Hag said about transfers?
Speaking last week, Ten Hag admitted the club needs ‘better players’ to compete for the biggest trophies.
“It is difficult to say in this moment. You have to see how you come out of the transfer window but I think we need more,” he said.
“I don’t have so (much) patience. That is one of my mistakes. We want to win every game.
“It’s a good base to build on but the standards have to go up, the demands have to rise. We have to work in the summer with this squad, but also in the window see if you can strengthen the squad.
“In this league it is a good base to be in the top four. We want to compete for the title but you have to be realistic and can first say when you have your squad in the end of the transfer window and the winter transfer window what you can do.
“The squad is there and you can make a statement about if it is realistic or not. Now we are far away, so we have a lot of work to do. We make progress in this team in this squad, but we need better players if we want to compete for the highest.”
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