The Dutchman aims to bring to Old Trafford an possession-based, attacking football and how successful he will be will depend on whether he can find the balance right in the middle of the park. To do so, signatures will be needed with Ten Hague aiming to bring in both Frankie de Jong and Christian Eriksen. Barcelona are looking to make money from De Jong so they can fund another defense for the elderly, and Ten Hague has named the player, with whom he had great success at Ajax, for a reunion at United. Eriksen, meanwhile, will be available as a free transfer when his short-term deal expires in Brentford next week. The Dane made a remarkable comeback in January after suffering a heart attack on the pitch while representing his country at Euro 2020. READ ALSO: Anthony is one of the three strikers that United want to lighten up Cristiano Ronaldo If United had managed to complete both deals, they would have taken a huge step by adding the technique and ingenuity they lack so much, even if it were still without the defensive midfielder who had to be given priority. Eriksen and De Jong would play with Fred, Scott McTomney, Bruno Fernandes, Donny van de Beek and James Garner in the United midfield, but with so many options, what would be Ha’s first choice with Ten line; The authors told us their opinion. Samuel Lockherst There is admirable courage in Ten Haag who wants De Jong, one of the most talented midfielders in the world, although parachuting him into United’s worst team in decades and the toughest league title is a risk without an unknown defensive midfielder. and United do not. have one of them. De Jong has been playing for culturally aligned teams and national teams since Ajax titans Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels transformed Barcelona almost 50 years ago. United do not have as much identity crisis as their identity (two top, conventional extremes, hunting games) is outdated. One of the few guarantees with Ten Haag is that he will have to apply an identity, hence the determination to recruit De Jong. Ten Haag is trying to modernize United after trying to go back in time under Ole Gunnar Solskier, all counter-attacks and out of control. Ironically, Solskier touched the ground with Eriksen three years ago and he gave United a turn. Since then he has done little to justify Ten Hague’s interest and you have to be a special player to return to England from Serie A and play at the top rungs (eg Cristiano Ronaldo). Eriksen had three good months in Brentford and it is wonderful that he was able to continue his career after those numbing scenes in Copenhagen a year ago. You can imagine United’s social media accounts repeating the applause he received when he took a corner at Old Trafford last month and filming a welcoming hug by Brandon Williams. Eriksen, although he has been in the best team of the Spurs for the last 30 years, should not be decisive for the reconstruction of United. Juan Mata is four years older and Eriksen is probably more alert, but there is not much to separate them and Eriksen endured six years in the Premier League. There is value in a coach signing a player he knows, but Ten Hague is already in danger of going to extremes. Eriksen trained with Ajax earlier this year as he regained his fitness. Activating it in the Eredivisie and in a club that has been promoted is a different level from United, the most exhausting sports institution on the planet. It would be more valuable as a rotating option. Excluding Ten Hague’s interest in De Jong and Eriksen, the renewal of Bruno Fernandes’s contract – which was confirmed weeks before Ten Hague’s appointment was announced – already seems both pointless and unfair. Fernandez turns 28 in September and control of football is not his style. Shaking him can convince him to stop complaining and start controlling. Parts of the fan base will delete Fred, but he should not be hastily rejected from the starting line-up, provided that United have the staff to host him. Ultimately, it would be United’s failure to finish the window without a defensive midfielder. De Jong would need as much as the defense. Tyrone Marshall For the last two seasons, it seemed that United were in desperate need of a defensive midfielder, but part of the reason for that was that they were constantly exposed to the counter-attack due to lack of quality and care in possession. This was a poorly structured team that made bad choices. The fact that Ten Haag is targeting De Jong suggests that he sees a lack of control as more important than the need for a select midfielder, and if United want to be a possession-based team, they need improved passes in the center of midfield. Eriksen also fits into this account. De Jong played alongside Lasse Sonne at Ajax, another midfielder who is not really a player he holds, and it looks like a similar approach could be used at United, combining De Jong with Fred. The Dutchman can take the ball from deep and help United move on the field, while Fred has the energy to push and cover the ground. This leaves a role for a more creative player. Van de Beek feels at best as a team player and would essentially be between Eriksen and Fernandes. Ten Hague’s desire to take possession this summer may make Eriksen more suitable for the role, as Fernandez is relaxed with the ball due to his high-risk approach. It would be brave to have a new coach come and knock down Fernandes, but Eriksen’s overall quality can only give him the lead in this three-pointer in midfield. Steven Reilston Although De Jong and Eriksen would be great additions, neither would solve the team’s biggest problem: United desperately need a defensive midfielder. The midfield will continue to be unbalanced without a specialist protecting the back line. Rodrigo plays this role for Manchester City and Fambino does it for Liverpool – the midfield of both teams would be much worse without these players. United must get their own defensive midfielder if they want to claim trophies again. Bruno Fernandes and De Jong will have to start in midfield three, but that means Eriksen will be left in place, which he may not accept. A midfield, three of the Fernandes, De Jong and Eriksen would be unbalanced and would leave United vulnerable. The space that United desperately gave the opponent last season will have to be eliminated with coaching and some delayed tactical consistency, however, it will be funny if he does not sign a defensive midfielder this summer, as their problematic position remains. READ NEXT:
