As Ineos continues to make its mark on what seems to be an ever-evolving squad at Old Trafford, Manchester United is set to unveil two major new signings.
Familiar from their time at Ajax, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt are expected to cost United approximately £51.5 million in total. Before United begins their Premier League campaign against Fulham on Friday night (8pm), the contracts for both players should be finalized. While their impact will be seen over the medium to long term, it remains uncertain if Mazraoui and De Ligt will feature in that opening match.
It’s clear where United’s main focus has been this summer. Despite needing to offload players for further acquisitions, Ineos was willing to pursue up to three new center-backs and consider adding a left-back and a holding midfielder to potentially replace Casemiro.
However, with Casemiro appearing fit again, United may be able to delay finding a replacement. Ten Hag and his staff must plan for alternatives given the reduced budget, as Casemiro won’t be available for every match.
For a defensive midfielder who is a decade younger than Casemiro, this expectation is quite demanding. Ten Hag should consider an internal option as a potential solution.
Lisandro Martinez could be that option. Although Ten Hag initially dismissed Martinez’s role as a midfield shield—despite his occasional use there at Ajax—United has players who could help mitigate any perceived lack of mobility in that position.
- Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, and Mason Mount possess those qualities in abundance. Partnering Martinez with one or more of these players could provide the needed aggression and passing ability, typically covered by Casemiro when he’s absent due to injury, suspension, or rotation.
