When Manchester United were drawing up their list of transfer targets at the start of the summer, few would have anticipated that a left-back would be the first signing of the Erik ten Hag era.
However, United caught everyone by surprise when they moved to hijack Tyrell Malacia's expected move to French giants Lyon at the end of June. The Ligue 1 outfit had been in discussions with Feyenoord for several weeks over a deal to sign the Netherlands international and looked set to secure his signature.
But United were alerted to Malacia's qualities and potential by Ten Hag, who had experienced plenty of sightings of his fellow countryman during his time at Ajax. Exactly a week after their interest in the defender came to light, he put pen to paper on a four-year deal in M16, becoming the club's first signing of the summer.
READ MORE: United mastered Erik ten Hag's style with 14-pass move vs Sheriff
Such was the nature in which the transfer developed, it came across as being a last-ditch effort to get a player through the door to ease the pressure mounting from the fans who were desperate for new additions. Furthermore, it was a position that was already well-stocked; United had Luke Shaw, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams and youngster Alvaro Fernandez competing for the left-back berth.
There were very few suggestions that United were looking to recruit at left-back during the summer, but the possibility of hijacking Malacia's move to Lyon was one that Ten Hag was not prepared to let pass him by. United acted swiftly and got the deal done, even if it was greeted with a degree of confusion.
The Reds had earlier been looking to strengthen at right-back, pinpointing Jurrien Timber of Ajax as their top target. Ten Hag had worked closely with the youngster in Amsterdam, overseeing his development, and saw him as an ideal option to help mould his United vision together.
Timber was linked with a move to United long before the transfer window had even opened for business, meaning speculation and debate about his future was a constant topic, day in, day out. It even resulted in former United manager and current Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal being quizzed on the subject during the June international break.
Van Gaal, considering he had earlier advised Ten Hag to stay away from United, describing them as a 'commercial club', delivered a response that should not have come as too big a surprise, advising Timber to refrain from joining the Reds. He made the admission based on the thought that it could disrupt his World Cup prospects.
"I think a player with his qualities can play in the Premier League," said Van Gaal, speaking in June. "That's not a problem. But if he has to make this step now... that's another question.
"It is not so wise I think [to join United]. He has to play."
Based on the fact Aaron Wan-Bissaka's future was already in doubt and that Diogo Dalot had struggled in recent months, Timber, it seemed, would have been a shoo-in at right-back, had he completed a move to Old Trafford. The Dutchman, who won Ajax's Talent of the Year award last season, would have been aligned with Ten Hag's methods and would have likely started week in, week out.
Malacia, on the other hand, arrived at United to go second in the pecking order for the left-back berth. Shaw, despite his struggles last season, was still considered the Reds' go-to option on the left side of the defence, meaning Malacia was expected to push from behind and keep him on his toes.
But after just the opening two Premier League fixtures at the start of this season, Malacia dislodged Shaw from the starting line-up and has started every league game and Europa League game since. He has become a mainstay, producing a series of fine performances, building on-field relationships with Lisandro Martinez to his right and Jadon Sancho ahead of him.
His performances at United have not gone unnoticed by Van Gaal, either, as Malacia has been included in the latest Netherlands squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures with Poland and Belgium. He is now in contention to make the World Cup squad - and deservedly so.
His inclusion in the Netherlands squad has left Van Gaal with egg on his face somewhat, as he implied that joining United would hold Timber back in relation to his international prospects. But considering Malacia has made the cut, so soon after arriving at the club and expecting to fulfil a back-up role, he has proven anything is possible.
READ NEXT:
