It's taken quite some time for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to look like a £50million right-back, one better than 899 other candidates in Manchester United's extensive scouting mission - but it might finally be happening.
Erik ten Hag has done a great job since taking over at Old Trafford. He inherited a disorganised and downtrodden rabble and has turned them into a side capable of going deep into competitions and even winning them. While a big part of that has been his astute additions in the transfer market, it can't be overlooked the job he has done with the players who were already at the club.
Marcus Rashford is the star example. The forward cut a forlorn figure last season, his head constantly slumped to the floor completely drained of confidence. He registered the worst goal return of his career and it was even briefly questioned if he would stay at United. But look at him now! Back to and even surpassing his previous best with a record tally of 28 already.
Read next: United have found the perfect alternative to Bellingham and De Jong
He's not the only player to have benefited from Ten Hag's excellent man-management and clever coaching. Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Fred, Diogo Dalot, Anthony Martial (when he's played) and until very recently David de Gea have all improved considerably this season and look to be playing with new-found belief.
Just when you thought the Dutchman's miracle-working couldn't stretch any further, even Wan-Bissaka has started to get better and better. It's been quite the turnaround for the defender
Ten Hag appeared to have made his mind up on Wan-Bissaka before he had even got his feet under his desk. He was made available for offers last summer and it looked as if his stay at the club was over. But when no bids came in and United failed in some half-hearted attempts to bring in another right-back there was a stay of execution and he remained.
But chances were few and far between in the early stages of the campaign as Dalot made the right-back spot his own. A back injury kept Wan-Bissaka out for a while but even if he was fit it seemed unlikely he would have seen much more than his meagre four minutes of action.
But after the World Cup his opportunity presented itself as Dalot was the one to be sidelined. He's taken it with both hands. From hardly playing at all in the first half of the season, Wan-Bissaka has only not played in four league matches since the resumption of club football and has played in all but one cup match.
Wan-Bissaka has always been great in one-on-one duels and that has continued. He has only been dribbled past in the Premier League once, the least of any player who has registered at least 900 minutes of action and he managed to pour cold water on the previously unstoppable fire that is Brighton's thrilling winger Kaoru Mitoma at Wembley on Sunday. The Japanese international told OneFootball: “Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a strong opponent, that is what I thought while I was playing. But there were a lot of scenes where his legs stretched at the end, or he got the ball down at the back. I think it was a complete defeat.”
But what's even more impressive is that Wan-Bissaka has also stepped up the side of his game which has always been disappointing: attacking. The former-Crystal Palace man looks much more comfortable on the ball and has made some key contributions going forwards.
With Wan-Bissaka improving alongside Dalot, United are suddenly more well-stocked at right-back than they appeared at the start of the season. It might be enough to lessen the burden on signing another one this coming summer.
Ten Hag currently still wants another quality right-back option after failing to get one last season and is keen on Jeremie Frimpong, with it being understood United have held preliminary talks with the Bayer Leverkusen star's agents. But in a summer that is going to be very costly and draining as they pursue a desperately-needed striker and another world-class midfielder, it would be a of benefit to the club if they don't have to worry about yet another position.
If Wan-Bissaka can continue to prove himself in the remaining games, he might just change the club's transfer plans.
READ NEXT:
