Manchester United fans are obliged to feel wholly disappointed this summer after the Red Devils have struggled to improve the senior squad under new manager Erik ten Hag in a manner that many would have hoped for.
The Dutch tactician arrives at Old Trafford amid mounting expectations for the upcoming 2022-23 Premier League season after United finished sixth with an eleven-point gap between rivals Arsenal, while they were a whopping 35-points adrift of champions Manchester City.
An amazing feeling and a huge honour to join @ManUtd! 🔴
I’ll do my very best as a Red to achieve together what this great club deserves… can’t wait to get started! 👍🏼 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/YAe4vkOBjc
— Lisandro Martinez (@LisandrMartinez) July 27, 2022
With Ten Hag tasked with righting the ship as quickly as possible, it would be hard to argue that the club has done enough this transfer window across all areas of the pitch, but credible deals for Eredivisie pair Lisandro Martínez and Tyrell Malacia certainly have added considerable quality to the back line.
But with those completed deals have meant an overload of defensive options at current stand stands as fourteen players on United’s book for just four positions in the first XI, with United now in a position where they need to trim some of the fat off the backline.
Thankfully for the Red Devils, both Ivorian center-back Eric Bailly and United academy product Ethan Laird have garnered interest.
Per reports by The Athletic’s Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell, Serie A pair AS Roma and AC Milan have turned their attention toward Bailly for a possible loan move this summer though it is fair to suggest that the Ivorian would likely be a depth option at both clubs given the quality on offer at the San Siro as well as the Stadio Olimpico.
Should the Red Devils temporarily shed both players off the squad list for 2022-23, the overall picture under Ten Hag could take yet another important step forward.
