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10th July 2023
02:42pm BST
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has also improved under Ten Hag. The former Crystal Palace right-back is solid in one-versus-one defensive scenarios but limited on the ball.
Under Ten Hag, however, Wan Bissaka has stripped his game down and become more effective. In his last full season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wan-Bissaka was averaging 75 touches per game. Last season, he averaged 54 touches per game.
His overall number of passes and dribbles per game have also declined, from 63 and 38 to 52 to 33 respectively. This has benefitted the player, however. Ten Hag has helped improve Wan-Bissaka by simplifying his game. This, in turn, enables the club to prioritise other areas for new signings.
In Man United's ideal starting XI next season, the rest of the back four - Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw - remains the same.
In midfield, Casemiro is joined by Mason Mount and Moises Caicedo. Mount is a versatile player who will be a good fit for Ten Hag. He can press high, he is comfortable in possession and is creative in the final third.
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Caicedo, meanwhile, is a long shot to end up at Old Trafford next season. The Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder is wanted by several top European clubs, and it appears as though Chelsea are leading the race to sign him.
If Man United, however, were in the market for a new defensive midfielder, there aren't many better options than Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder, 21, was a revelation last season, and it is only a matter of time before he is playing for a team in the Champions League. Or Chelsea.
Up front, Marcus Rashford starts on the left side of a forward three following his best-ever season. The England forward scored 30 goals in 56 games last year, a massive improvement from five goals in the previous campaign.
In this XI, Bruno Fernandes starts on the right side of the front three. The Portuguese midfielder is versatile enough to play in the position, and United's other options - Antony and Jadon Sancho - are yet to convince. Alejandro Garnarcho can also play in the position but is still developing as a player.
At centre-forward in this ideal Man United XI for next season, Harry Kane starts.
The England captain has one year remaining on his contract with Tottenham Hotspur, who have rejected two bids from Bayern Munich for their star player. Man United would be wise to join the race to sign the Spurs striker.
Kane is the best centre-forward in the world and is in the final year of his deal. Man United may not ever get a better opportunity to sign him, even if prising him away from Spurs would be extremely difficult.
Daniel Levy, the club's chairman, would probably rather sell Kane to Bayern, or lose him for nothing next season than allow him to join a domestic rival. Man United, however, should at least test the water with a bid. If they cannot sign Kane, Atalanta striker Rasmus Højlund appears to be the club's second option.
All these potential transfers also depend on Man United selling several players - such as Harry Maguire, Dean Henderson, Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay, Fred and possibly even Jadon Sancho.
If the Red Devils can raise cash this way, and make the previously stated signings, here's how they could line out next season:
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