Frenkie De Jong, Tyrell Malacia Could Have Important Impacts on Manchester United and Soccer Odds
Manchester United faces a significant rebuild under Erik Ten Hag. The club had a slow start to the summer transfer window, but now is on the verge of completing two important moves for Tyrell Malacia and Frenkie de Jong.
The club will be a favorite in the Europa League along with being a favorite to compete for a Champions League spot in the Premier League. Malacia and De Jong will help the club add depth ahead of an important season under their new manager.
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Malacia Joins Manchester United From Feyenoord
Just a few weeks ago, Tyrell Malacia seemed set to join Lyon. However, Manchester United entered transfer negotiations with Feyenoord during the last week and seems set to complete the signing of the young left-back.
Manchester United already has several players at the position. Luke Shaw was considered to be one of the best fullbacks in the Premier League heading into last season but dealt with injuries and questions about his play on the field when he was healthy.
Alex Telles started several games for United as the backup to Shaw last season and had some good performances. In addition, Brandon Williams returns to Manchester United after spending last season on loan at Norwich City.
Despite the depth at the position, left-back was still an area Ten Hag felt he needed to strengthen. Malacia will come to the club to compete with Shaw to be the starter at the position.
The move leaves the possibility of one of the players at the position departing the club. Williams could possibly go back out on loan again this season, although the 21-year-old may have questions about his long-term future at United. Telles could also depart due to the limited playing time that may be available with Malacia and Shaw ahead of him on the depth chart.
De Jong’s Move To United Nears Completion
Frenkie de Jong has been the primary transfer target for Ten Hag and Manchester United since before the transfer window opened. De Jong was a vital midfielder for Ten Hag’s Ajax teams which had so much Champions League success before he departed for FC Barcelona.
The negotiations between United and Barcelona for De Jong have gone on for more than a month. Now, the two teams have reportedly come to an agreement on a transfer fee and only have a couple of details to work out before the transfer can be completed.
De Jong will be asked to help stabilize a Manchester United midfield that struggled to control games at times last season. Whether it was a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation, the United midfield often didn’t control the ball or play for long stretches of games.
The midfield will see the most change for United in terms of personnel ahead of next season, with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, among others, having already left the club. De Jong could end up playing in the midfield with former teammate Donny Van de Beek, who also has experience playing for Ten Hag and who recently returned from Everton where he spent the second half of last season on loan.
More importantly, if United can finish the signing of De Jong, it will allow them to move on to other important targets during the rest of the summer to help rebuild the squad ahead of Ten Hag’s first season.
What These Transfers Mean for United and Soccer Odds
Manchester United’s extended negotiations with Barcelona for De Jong have reportedly caused delays to other signings the club would like to make this summer. Assuming De Jong’s move to United becomes official in the next few days, the club will be able to move on to completing negotiations for other targets.
Ten Hag and Manchester United will hope to sign an attacker and a center-back during the rest of the transfer window. Antony and Jurrien Timber, both at Ten Hag’s former club Ajax, have been two of the primary players thought to be main targets for Manchester United at each respective position.
While United won’t be favorites to win the Premier League, they will be one of the main contenders in the Europa League next season. The club is going through a lot of changes this summer, but signing two important players that could have important impacts in the future will help add depth and quality to the club ahead of next season. A good finish to the summer transfer window could make them even more likely to be a contender in the Europa League.
