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A closer look at Manchester United's six arrivals during the summer market

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 September 2022, 09:46
The summer transfer window slammed shut on Thursday evening, with Manchester United managing to boost their squad with the arrival of six players.

Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka all arrived at Old Trafford over the summer, with head coach Erik ten Hag hoping to have assembled a squad strong enough to deal with the volume of matches over the next couple of months.

A busy window also saw Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani, Tahith Chong, Juan Mata and Lee Grant leave.

Meanwhile, Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, Dean Henderson, Amad Diallo, Hannibal Mejbri and Alvaro Fernandez departed the 20-time English champions on loan over the summer.

Man United lost their opening two games of the 2022-23 Premier League season to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, but they have now won their last three against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester City.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the team's six summer arrivals, with each of them hoping to play an important role for Ten Hag's side this season.

Tyrell Malacia (£13.5m from Feyenoord)

It is still very early in Malacia's Man United career, but he looks to be incredible business at £13.5m, with the 23-year-old already overtaking Luke Shaw to become the team's first-choice left-back.

The Netherlands international made 136 appearances for Feyenoord before arriving at Old Trafford, and he has already featured on five occasions for Ten Hag's side during the 2022-23 campaign.

Malacia's performance off the bench in the 4-0 loss at Brentford on August 13 convinced Ten Hag to start him against Liverpool, and he has played the full 90 minutes in the team's last three matches, which have brought wins over Jurgen Klopp's side, Southampton and Leicester.

The Dutchman's tenacity and energy have already made him a firm favourite with the Man United supporters, and Shaw will find it hard to displace him if he continues with this level of performance.

Malacia was not the team's most glamorous signing of the summer window, but he could end up being one of the most important.

Christian Eriksen (free transfer from Brentford)

Moving for a player of Eriksen's quality on a free transfer was not a particularly difficult decision for Man United to make, and the 30-year-old has already shown his class in a Red Devils shirt.

There had been claims that the Denmark international had been signed as a squad player, but he has started all five of the team's Premier League games this term and has completed their last two against Southampton and Leicester, playing key roles in the victories.

Eriksen's quality on the ball and calmness in possession have made him a vital asset for the 20-time English champions early in the campaign, and it appears that he has a key role to play this term.

The Dane's brilliant form for Brentford in the second half of last season saw Man United make their move, and it is remarkable that he is playing at this level at all after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, which led to him having an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator inserted in his chest.

Lisandro Martinez (£51.6m from Ajax)

Martinez found it tough in his first two appearances for Man United against Brighton and Brentford, with many claiming that it would be impossible for him to thrive as a centre-back in the Premier League due to his size.

However, the 5ft 9in defender has been excellent in his team's last three matches against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester, playing an important role in Ten Hag's side conceding just once in those three fixtures.

The Argentina international's aggressiveness has already made him a firm favourite with the Man United supporters, and he looks to be forming a solid centre-back partnership with Raphael Varane.

Martinez, who won two league titles and the Dutch Cup during his time at Ajax, will certainly be tested aerially throughout the campaign, but it has been a strong start to his career with the 20-time English champions.

Casemiro (£63.6m from Real Madrid)

Casemiro's arrival at Man United did come as a surprise, with the 30-year-old signing a four-year deal, with the option of another 12 months, upon the completion of his move from Real Madrid.

A five-time Champions League winner, the Brazil international has been one of the outstanding holding midfielders in world football for some time now, and it is certainly a statement signing by Man United.

Casemiro is yet to start for the Red Devils this term, featuring off the bench in their last two matches against Southampton and Leicester, playing a key role in closing out the two victories.

Ten Hag has been reluctant to change a winning side, and he is giving the midfielder time to settle in a new country, but there is no question that the South American will be a vital player for Man United this season.

In his two short cameos, he has shown his class, and although there was frustration when it came to Frenkie de Jong, Man United still managed to bring in one of the best midfielders in the world during the window.

Antony (£85.5m from Ajax)

Man United managed to officially get the deal done for Ajax on transfer deadline day, and the Brazil international is in line to make his debut for the club against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The 22-year-old started the 2022-23 campaign in impressive fashion for Ajax, scoring twice and providing two assists in three appearances in all competitions.

Meanwhile, he has left the Amsterdam giants with a record of 24 goals and 22 assists in 82 appearances since making the move from Sao Paulo in July 2020.

Antony has been signed to play off the right at Man United, and although it is a lot of money, the South American has the potential to become one of the leading players in world football over the next few years.

The Red Devils ultimately had to pay more than they would have wanted for the forward, though, and there will be immediate pressure on him to deliver due to the price tag and stage he is now on.

Martin Dubravka (loan from Newcastle United)

Man United had been looking to sign a new goalkeeper this summer following Dean Henderson's loan switch to Nottingham Forest, which left Tom Heaton as the only senior back up to David de Gea.

Dubravka's move from Newcastle was secured on deadline day, with the 33-year-old due to spend the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Old Trafford.

There is also an option to make the move permanent next summer, which is certainly a possibility if he manages to enjoy an impressive season in Manchester.

De Gea will remain the number one, but Dubravka will be given opportunities due to the volume of matches in the coming months, and he is a vastly experienced goalkeeper.

The Slovakia international has played 130 matches for Newcastle, including 127 outings in the Premier League, while he has also previously featured in the Champions League for Zilina, and Europa League for Slovan Liberec and Esbjerg.

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