Erik ten Hag may have already accepted that he would not be able to repair every aspect of this Manchester United team in a single transfer window.
The club’s new manager has prioritized players in midfield and attack, and negotiations for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong are underway.
However, United are juggling their resources this summer, and one prospective attacking target, Darwin Nunez, is close to joining Liverpool.
As the window closes, United may shift their focus to defense. If Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, and Axel Tuanzebe leave, the club may need to strengthen at center back, and Ten Hag has notified Aaron Wan-Bissaka that he is free to leave.
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That leaves a vacancy at right-back, and it’s at full-back that sticking plasters may be required next season, given the fact that time and budget constraints mean United won’t be able to accomplish everything they want in the window.
If Wan-Bissaka leaves, Diogo Dalot will be the sole right-back in the squad, and concerns still surround the 23-year-old. In this situation, nothing of United’s alternatives has truly convinced me.
However, there are several plausible options if the fee for Wan-Bissaka is reinvested in the same position, and they may be players known to Ten Hag.
De Jong is the current former Ajax player being pursued by United, but USA international Sergio Dest is another player who could be permitted to leave the Nou Camp to help alleviate the club’s financial troubles. The 21-year-old played 38 games for Ajax under Ten Hag before joining Barcelona.
He is an attacking right-back who would be a dangerous signing in the Premier League, but Ten Hag will know exactly what he can bring.
Denzel Dumfries is another attacking right-back who may be available for a bargain this summer. Ten Hag would have faced the former PSV Eindhoven star in the Eredivisie, and he’s had a successful first season at Inter Milan, scoring five goals in 33 Serie A matches.
The 26-year-old has five goals in 34 matches for Holland and has typically prospered as a wing-back rather than a traditional full-back, however, his defending may be a concern. Inter Milan is likewise attempting to balance its books and may consider selling.
Jurrien Timmer, a current Ajax defender, might possibly be an option for United during this window due to his versatility. The 20-year-old is a long-term central defender, but he has also played right-back and might provide a short-term solution there before moving to the heart of the defense.
In truth, none of those possibilities is a great solution for United, but this was never going to be a perfect window.
