After a slow start to the summer transfer window, Manchester United's social media team will find themselves busy sooner rather than later.
That is because the club, as reported by the Manchester Evening News , are closing in on the signings of Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. United have agreed fees with both clubs and are hopeful of adding both players to the squad ahead of flying out to Thailand for the start of the pre-season tour in just over a week's time.
United's pursuit of De Jong has been long and, at times, frustrating. But after seven weeks and countless discussions with Barcelona, the midfielder is now one step closer to being reunited with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.
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Malacia's impending move to Old Trafford, however, has developed at rapid speed. Seemingly destined to join Lyon just 24 hours ago, United made a last-gasp move to hijack the deal and now look set to beat the French club to his signature. The 22-year-old will add a youthfulness to the left-back berth, as well as a great degree of pace, quality and potential.
The Dutch international is an attack-minded full-back who loves nothing more than getting high up the pitch and whipping crosses into the penalty area. He grabbed five assists for Feyenoord last season, four of which came in the Eredivise.
United manager Ten Hag is understood to be a long-term admirer of the defender, so his move to Old Trafford will be all the more pleasing for the the boss. Malacia's move to United, just as De Jong's, as well as the club's continued interest in Christian Eriksen and Antony, suggests that Ten Hag has grand ambitions to rebuild the squad in his image, and a sense that he wants to loosen the shackles and get them playing quick, forward-thinking, attacking football.
He wants them to dictate games, get a foothold in possession and dictate proceedings. De Jong will allow United to do just that in the centre of midfield with his desire to get on the ball, dictate the play and drive forward. Malacia, too, can give them that from left-back, with his desire to drive forward one of the most useful tools in his armoury.
Former Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst once said of Malacia: "He is an attacking full-back. I think he is quite good on the ball. And yes, he puts his foot on the ball at times, he is cheeky like that and that will probably never totally go away."
If and when United do get the deal for Malacia over the line, you would expect him to be in direct competition with Luke Shaw for the left-back berth. On the other side, however, right-back remains a troubled area, with neither Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is understood to have been deemed surplus to requirements, doing enough last season to justify remaining the club's first choice right-back.
It is why United, if they are to loosen the shackles under Ten Hag, desperately need to upgrade their options in that area of the team. With that in mind, they should look no further than Inter Milan ace Denzel Dumfries, who is already being linked with a move to Old Trafford.
It is claimed by L’Interista that United are interested in him and are weighing up a €30million (£25.8m) offer for his services. Dumfries, who starred at Euro 2020 last summer, scoring two goals and grabbing one assist in just four matches, is considered as the perfect modern-day right-back, who loves nothing more than driving up the pitch with pace and supplying the forward players, much like Malacia.
Lat season, Dumfries scored five goals and claimed seven assists for Inter, highlighting just how attack-minded he is. By comparison, Wan-Bissaka and Dalot didn't get a single goal or assist between them.
The 26-year-old Dutchman, who first made a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven, is one of the most attack-minded full-backs in Europe. So he could be tailor-made for the plan Ten Hag wants to implement.
With the club closing in on Malacia and continuing to track Eriksen and Antony, it is clear that Ten Hag wants players who are creative, energetic and forward-thinking.
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