Manchester United are nearing completion on the acquisitions of Andre Onana and Mason Mount this summer......READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The majority of the recent Old Trafford headlines has focused on whether the Glazer family will sell the club to Sheikh Jassim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, or not at all.
While Harry Kane, Erik ten Hag’s major transfer target at center-forward, remains at Tottenham Hotspur, other transfers have been taking place in the background.
Albert Botines, Onana’s agent, has met with United to talk terms on a deal that Inter Milan hopes will exceed €50 million for their custodian, while Chelsea has received a third bid in excess of £55 million for England midfielder Mount, who has already committed to a move.
Onana would be the new No. 1 for Manchester United. With 17 clean sheets last season, incumbent David de Gea earned the Premier League’s Golden Glove, but his ball-playing skill is dubious at best.
United have given the Spaniard a new two-year contract, but it comes with no guarantee of first-team play and a wage cut from £375,000 to £200,000 per week.
Onana won the Dutch domestic treble under Ten Hag at Ajax in 2019, and if he can replicate his Inter form in the Premier League, he might be the club’s first choice for a generation.
Mount’s presence expands Ten Hag’s tactical choices, not just because he is an outfielder, but also because he is a versatile one.
Mount played across Chelsea’s midfield last season, including in the middle, on either flank, behind a striker, and in front of the defence, and his ‘jack of all crafts, master of some’ profile will be beneficial to United.
He is most likely to play with Casemiro in central midfield, though Christian Eriksen will be a tough competitor there.
With the nascent Alejandro Garnacho and Antony on the books, and Amad Diallo set to be given his chance after impressing on loan with Sunderland last season, Bruno Fernandes is the undisputed No.10 and likely the club captain next season, while Mount may be wasted on the wings.
Without Kane, or any other genuine No.9, Marcus Rashford may be obliged to lead the line, despite preferring to start on the left. Last season, he scored 30 goals in all competitions, indicating that he is at least clinical enough.
United will almost certainly spend more money on transfers this summer, especially with a new owner in charge, but as things stand, the above is how United will line up in 2023/24.
