Manchester United have wasted no time in backing manager Erik ten Hag after finally committing to a future with the Dutchman at the Old Trafford helm.
After dismal Premier League and Champions League campaigns in 2023/24 the axe was widely expected to fall on Ten Hag, with new part-owners Ineos tipped to shake things up at the under-performing club.
However, despite meeting with numerous potential successors, it was announced last week that a 12-month extension clause in Ten Hag's contract had been triggered. The former Ajax coach's impressive debut season in 2022/23 and success in May's FA Cup final against bitter rivals Manchester City are thought to have earned the 54-year-old the opportunity to turn things around.
Since then, United have acted quickly to support the manager with a shake-up of his coaching team and tangible progress in player recruitment.
The arrival of Ineos certainly hasn't been a panacea for United's many ills, but a newly-installed management structure in place above Ten Hag - including chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox - and evidence of multiple deals being pursued simultaneously will be hugely encouraging for supporters.
Who is Joshua Zirkzee?
United's first major piece of business this summer will be the signing of Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee after they agreed a €40 million deal with the Serie A side.
United have paid above the player's release clause to secure an extended payment period for the 23-year-old. The club need to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) regards loss limits and accept their situation is tight and transfer dealings will require careful planning. Bologna will have to hand over a large chunk of that fee to his former club Bayern Munich because of a sell-on clause.
Born to a Nigerian mother and Dutch father, Zirkzee grew up playing cage football in Schiedam, near Rotterdam. His talent saw him scouted and signed by Bayern where he played in the academy alongside his friend Jamal Musiala. His breakthrough came on loan at Anderlecht in 2021/22 where he scored 15 times and laid on eight assists in 32 league games.
Bayern sold him to Bologna for €8.5m but with a 40 per cent sell-on clause. He has flourished in Italy, registering 13 goals and seven assists in 53 games and being named Serie A's best U23 player last season. As a child he looked up to former United player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while when he scores he mimics gunfire, a celebration inspired by the Quentin Tarantino film 'Django Unchained'.
Zirkzee is 6ft 4in (193cm) and powerfully built but offers much more than his physical profile suggests. The Dutch international loves to run at players, carries the ball with authority and skill and links play effectively. He's also as comfortable playing off the striker as he is as an outright No 9.
Will Matthijs de Ligt be next?
United's desperate need for fresh blood at the back is no secret and it seems De Ligt is their most concrete option right now. It has been widely reported that De Ligt is eager to leave Bayern Munich and reunite with his old Ajax boss Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
United have already agreed personal terms with the 24-year-old centre-back, according to social media transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, with United and Bayern now haggling over the structure of a €50m deal.
De Ligt was the hottest defensive property in Europe under Ten Hag in Amsterdam but has had his ups and downs at both Juventus and Bayern since. However, he finished last season in good form at the Allianz Arena and would represent excellent value given his age, experience, ability on the ball and the elite form he has shown in the past.
He would become the fourth of Ten Hag's former Ajax cohort in the squad alongside Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Antony. That number would have been five but for Donny van de Beek's exit to La Liga side Girona.
Going Dutch: United shake up coaching staff
On Thursday United named former striker Ruud van Nisterooy and Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake as their new assistant managers. The pair have been appointed to Ten Hag’s backroom staff on contracts until June 2026.
Ten Hag said: “I am delighted that Rene and Ruud have agreed to join our project, adding a wealth of experience, knowledge and new energy to the staff. Now is a good time to refresh the coaching team as we look to build on the achievements of the past two years and push to the next level.”
Senior first-team coach Steve McClaren and first-team coach Darren Fletcher remain in their roles but Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy have left the club.
It marks a return to Old Trafford for Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for United between 2000 and 2006. He has previously managed PSV Eindhoven but resigned at the end of the 2022/23 season despite winning the Dutch Cup. Hake arrives from Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles, who he led to Uefa Conference League qualification.
New sporting director Ashworth said: “Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first-team operations and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that. It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.”
Who is Rene Hake?
The little-known Hake joins United after arguably his best season in coaching, having guided Dutch minnows Go Ahead Eagles into the Conference League.
Hake, 52, had no playing career of note but after impressing as a youth coach he earned the top job at Emmen and then Twente, Cambuur and Utrecht before taking over Go Ahead Eagles in 2022. Ten Hag and Hake have crossed paths in Dutch football over the years and the United boss is said to be an admirer of Hake's teams and their tactical approach.
Ten Hag said: "He started at a very young age as a coach and he was coaching from, I would say, under-six all up until the highest. So the last years, he was only working with seniors, as assistant coach but also in the last years as a head coach, as a manager.
“In the second level, in the highest level, his experiences at Utrecht, at Go Ahead Eagles, where he did a magnificent job to lead that team into Europe and the Conference League. That was the biggest surprise from last year."
Hake's Go Ahead Eagles side were also something of a bogey team for Ajax. The Amsterdam giants have only won one of their past six meetings with the upstarts from Deventer.
Will United sign Jarrad Branthwaite?
United's pursuit of the talented Everton defender appears to have reached an impasse. Branthwaite was arguably the best English centre-back in the Premier League last season and Everton have quite understandably placed a high valuation of around £75m on a player who has become their prized asset.
Suspecting Everton might need to sell before the end of June for PSR reasons, United put in a meagre opening bid of around £35m plus add-ons. Despite being aware of Everton's asking price they went back with another low-ball offer of £45m plus add-ons. Both were given short shrift.
Branthwaite has three years remaining on his contract and is said to be unlikely to agitate for a move, meaning United will have to significantly improve their offer to tempt Everton to the negotiating table. Whether they can do that without significant sales remains to be seen.
The Merseyside club have based their valuation on the transfers of Harry Maguire, Wesley Fofana and Josko Gvardiol, who all moved clubs for fees of £80m and above.
Branthwaite already has a huge fan at United in Van Nistelrooy, who coached him during the defender's loan spell at PSV in 2022/23 where he was affectionately nicknamed "Gerrit". Branthwaite soon ousted Armando Obispo from the team and formed a solid partnership with Andre Ramalho in a side that also featured another player linked to United in recent days, the PSG star Xavi Simons.
United's move for De Ligt should not preclude another offer for Branthwaite given they need multiple defensive additions. Martinez has had repeated fitness issues, Raphael Varane has left the club and 36-year-old Jonny Evans played 30 games in all competitions last season. The popular Evans signed a new one-year deal on Friday.
Who else are United in for?
United are reported to have made an offer for the 18-year-old Lille centre-back Leny Yoro, although they are thought to be behind Real Madrid in the race to acquire the highly rated young defender.
They are also understood to have bid for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte. Their interest in the Uruguayan would surely accelerate if they were able offload Casemiro, who has interest from the Saudi Pro League. United, who in the past have tried and failed to persuade Frenkie De Jong to join from Barcelona, have long been in the market for a deep-lying midfielder who can protect the back four but also has the dynamism to recover the ball and start attacks.
Manchester United season ratings 2023/24
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MANCHESTER UNITED 2023/24 SEASON RATINGS: Injuries undoubtedly hit United’s season and they only relented in the final weeks. There were highs - winning the FA Cup - and lows - elimination from the Champions League with one win from six was abysmal and United were so poor to watch for much of the season. If the Dutchman keeps his job – and most fans would like him too - he’s still got a tough one on his hands. PA -
A wretched start, a major reason why United went out of the Champions League with only one win from six, but how the Cameroonian turned it around. That was in spite of the players changing in front of him most weeks. 4/10 for the first half of the season, 8/10 for the second. PA -
Named club's player’s player of the season, the Portuguese was one of the few players who improved as the team underachieved. Inspired daily by Cristiano Ronaldo, the full-back reckons he’s fitter, more focused and doing everything he can to improve. While his defensive positioning can still raise eyebrows, Dalot is a danger going forward. Getty Images -
Managed just 1,180 minutes (Dalot on the opposite flank managed 4,364) because of muscle injuries. He was back in the team when United won 4/4 February league games, then injured for the next one v Fulham – which United lost at home. His absences, and those of his deputy Tyrell Malacia, cost United dearly. (* indicates season badly hit by injury). Getty Images -
A world-class defender on world-class wages who showed his quality in the FA Cup final and left on a high, but injuries, which pockmarked his time at United meant he started only 16 of 38 league games and that’s the issue. Great sides have a stable defence. United’s defence was never close to that in ’23/24. Action Images -
Top defender who, like Varane, proved that in the Cup final where he was disciplined, aggressive, motivated and passed through City’s lines. Yet he suffered from three serious injuries to his foot, knee and calf, which decimated his season. Potential to have a great United career if he stays fit. Getty Images -
Out of the squad at the start of the season when he was linked with a move away from United, but ended up playing more minutes than any of United’s central defenders, despite having injuries himself. Rightly praised for the way he came through a difficult couple of years. AFP -
Was paid the minimum wage before he signed and when he did he barely expected to feature, yet injuries meant Evans ended up playing 1,593 minutes. Epic under siege at Anfield, devasated to miss Liverpool returning to Old Trafford for the FA Cup quarter-final. Experienced, reads games so well, this lifelong fan would be happy to stay another year. Action Images -
Another central defender beset by injuries, first a groin and then a hamstring, he missed two big chunks of the season where he’d started in 12/15 opening league games. Scored the only goal in a 1-0 win home to Luton. AP -
Missed two significant blocks of the season to injury, but finished by starting the last 10 league games playing either left-back or right-back. Better on the right. A fine defender on his day, which is not often enough. Top game in the FA Cup final. PA -
Outstanding for the first half-hour in Munich – and that was about as good as it got for the on loan Spaniard who spent the first half of the season at Old Trafford. EPA -
If Bournemouth away was the low point, then several decent home games showed that the youngster can play Premier League football. Injuries meant he got chances, talent should mean he’ll get more. AFP -
A huge disappointment after last season when he was one of United’s best players. The Brazilian blamed injuries and being asked to play out of position, which he did not shirk. Fans are more circumspect about whether this player, long a world-class performer, has a future at the club. EPA -
A revelation of a breakthrough season from the academy graduate from Greater Manchester. He would have played much more had he not been injured pre-season, but his first Premier League start at Everton in November was stunning. It became a cliche that he looked like he’d played hundreds of games for the club at the top level. His winner at Wolves was one of the season’s best moments. AFP -
A season of regression from the Dane who struggled to get off the bench after a 2-2 home draw against his former club Spurs in January. PA -
Scored 10 goals in a low-scoring team, including key matchwinners. One of the most important starting players in a team that only finished eighth but beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup. AP -
Arrived late on loan following Mainoo’s injury and he selflessly played out of position when asked – at one point that meant as a left-back, but didn’t convince until the last five weeks of the season when he played his best football in a more pragmatic formation that was tighter off the ball in midfield, including in the FA Cup final. PA -
Optimism when he signed from Chelsea, yet he was a big, injury-hit, disappointment in his first season. A late goal back in West London at Brentford brought brief smiles, but he started only five league games. Action Images -
His importance to Manchester United was shown when he was injured for late-season games, particularly at Crystal Palace. The captain scored 15 times and made 13 assists, winning the fans’ player of the year. EPA -
Encouraging cameos for the young wide man, notably against Liverpool where he got the winner in an FA Cup match. That was the highlight of United’s season until the FA Cup final. Showed his skills against Newcastle in the final home game, too. Will hope for more minutes next season. Getty Images -
Disappointing, especially given his huge fee. Best player on the pitch at Chelsea away and did well against Liverpool when he scored the key cup equaliser, but that’s nowhere near enough. EPA -
What a season for the young winger. His overhead kick goal at Everton was the best of the season in the entire league, he played week in, week out - 50 times in total, with 39 consecutive starts - and seldom failed to get fans off their seats when he got the ball. Scored a creditable 10 goals. AFP -
Poor, by his standards. He scored 30 times last season and only eight this. Fans finally lost patience with him after his off-field indiscipline, yet he remains on a long and large contract. Excellent in the cup final. Reuters -
A complete drain on United’s wage bill, he left the club after nine years this week. He didn’t ask to be injured, but United really needed help up front. PA -
Sixteen goals in his first season in English football is impressive for a young striker. He had weeks and even months where he had little service, but his attitude remained first-class and he’ll surely improve with more support, experience and confidence. Getty Images
