Man Utd’s Rebuild Under Erik Ten Hag Might Finally Be Complete

Manchester United are renowned for leaving their business late in the summer transfer window. In 2013, Marouane Fellaini was signed on deadline day after the Old Trafford club had botched its search for a world class midfielder. Seven years later, they signed Edinson Cavani with just hours of the window remaining.

Even last year, when most adjudged United’s summer business to be successful, they left it late in the window to land Antony and Casemiro, with the former another deadline day signing. This year, though, there has been a clarity to Manchester United’s transfer activity. Erik Ten Hag is moving through his shopping list quickly.

First, United signed Mason Mount from Chelsea to satisfy Ten Hag’s demand for a new pressing midfielder. The Old Trafford side might have overpaid for a player entering the final year of his contract, but Mount is only 24 and £55m represents an investment in the future. He will be an important part of United’s midfield rebuild.

Then Andre Onana was signed from Inter following the departure of David de Gea. Ten Hag needed a ball-playing goalkeeper to improve Manchester United as a possession-orientated team and Onana was his number one candidate having previously worked with the Cameroonian as Ajax manager.

After wrapping up a deal for Onana, United focused on signing a new number nine with Rasmus Hojlund emerging as their top target. The Danish striker scored nine goals in Serie A for Atalanta last season and has shown the potential to suggest he has a future at European soccer’s elite level ahead of him.

United will pay a reported £72m for the signing of Hojlund, which many argue is over the odds for a player who has played just one full season in a ‘Big Five’ league, but it reflects the Premier
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League club’s desperation to capture a new number nine. The right centre forward could unlock other areas of Ten Hag’s team.

Most recently, Manchester United are believed to be targeting the signing of Sofyan Amrabat. The central midfielder was a standout performer for Morocco as they reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and Fiorentina as they made a run to the final of the Europa Conference League last season.

Amrabat likely wouldn’t be a starter for United, but he would provide valuable depth behind Casemiro who missed a number of matches through suspension last season. Some sales might be needed to raise funds (Harry Maguire, Fred and Scott McTominay have all been linked with moves away from Old Trafford), but the signing of Amrabat would make sense.

Ten Hag inherited a mess upon arriving at Manchester United last summer, but the Dutch coach has worked through a long to-do list to remould the club in his own image. United made progress last season and further progress is expected this season. The long-awaited rebuild might finally be complete.