The Erik ten Hag era got underway on Monday as the Dutchman took his first training session at Carrington after the summer break.
And the former Ajax manager certainly has a full in-tray when it comes to transfers as he looks to radically overhaul an ailing squad.
United finished sixth last year with 58 points – their worst total for 32 years – narrowly missing out on the ignominy of the Europa Conference League in a hugely disappointing season despite their gargantuan wage bill.
Six players have already departed, with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Lee Grant leaving on free transfers this summer at the end of their contracts.
But there is plenty more to do, with ten Hag looking to axe several ‘dead wood’ players on massive wages, as well as bringing in a number of replacements and adding quality to the squad.
The Erik ten Hag era got underway on Monday as the Dutchman took his first training session
Ten Hag, 52, has plenty on his plate with transfers as he aims to start well at Manchester United
On the incomings, the most obvious is Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The club has made no secret of their pursuit and he is their top target this summer.
The Dutch midfielder knows ten Hag very well – and vice versa – having played under the 52-year-old at Ajax for two years, earning himself a move to Spanish giants Barcelona for around £65million in January 2019.
Ten Hag wants de Jong to be the first name in the door. Focus will shift to other signings once he is confirmed, and others are expected to follow.
As iconic Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart alluded to recently, the Red Devils boss wants to completely build his midfield around the gifted 25-year-old playmaker, using him in a ‘Sergio Busquets’ role.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is clearly the club’s No 1 target – and the Dutchman envisages using the 25-year-old star in the ‘Sergio Busquets’ role at the base of the midfield
Another definitely on United’s their watchlist is Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen (above), who would be available on a free transfer as his six-month contract with the Bees ticks down
With defensive midfielder Busquets, 33, generally used in a deeper midfield role, with two more advanced central players on either side, de Jong has generally been used in the latter position, as a No 8, at Barcelona.
But ten Hag envisions him as a No 6 in a 4-3-3 formation, more similar to how he…