Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag’s savvy overhaul has seen a major change in personnel over the last year. The Red Devils’ line-up under previous boss Ralf Rangnick is unrecognisable compared to the 11 that will likely start United’s 2023-24 Premier League opener against Wolves on Monday.
Rangnick oversaw a dismal United tenure that ended with a 1-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2021-22 season. Ten Hag watched on from the Selhurst Park stands as the players he would go on to inherit suffered yet another away reverse that campaign.
David De Gea started in goal, ahead of a back four of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Alex Telles. Fred, McTominay and youngster Hannibal Mejbri made up Rangnick’s midfield.
Anthony Elanga, Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani started in attack. From that 11, only Fernandes can claim to still be a regular starter at Old Trafford.
De Gea was released at the end of last season, quickly replaced by the £43million signing Andre Onana. Dalot competes with Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the right-back position, while Lindelof is merely a back-up centre-back.
Wide-ranging reports claim that Maguire could join West Ham in a permanent deal before the end of the transfer window. The England star was brutally stripped of the captaincy by Ten Hag earlier this summer, having found himself replaced by Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
Left-back Alex Telles has joined Al-Nassr, while Elanga completed a switch to Nottingham Forest. Cavani departed after the defeat by Palace, while Cristiano Ronaldo – who was injured – left a little over six months later after being cast aside by Ten Hag.
Fred and McTominay have both been linked with departures having fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford. The Daily Mail claim that United have agreed a £13m deal with Fenerbahce for Fred to leave, while McTominay is of interest to West Ham.
At least seven incoming transfers have helped Ten Hag transition from a team who scraped a fifth-placed finish in 2021-22, qualifying for the Europa League on the final day purely on the basis that West Ham lost their final game too.
Onana’s addition appears to be an upgrade on De Gea. Varane was signed the year before Ten Hag’s arrival but has formed an excellent partnership with Martinez, who joined from Ajax. Luke Shaw was brought back into regular contention by Ten Hag and given competition by the signing of Tyrell Malacia.
Ten Hag’s biggest task has been to improve his midfield. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were among the Dutchman’s first signings, while Mason Mount has been secured from Chelsea this summer. United could yet add another midfielder to their ranks before the transfer deadline.
In attack, United will hope that £72m arrival Rasmus Hojlund, 20, will be the long-term solution to their goalscoring problems. Antony will also bid to build on an impressive first campaign at Old Trafford, proving that Ten Hag’s rebuild of the club has been extremely successful.
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