Erik ten Hag could solve Man United’s full-back woes without spending a penny

Manchester United’s dismal season is finally about to end, with only two games left to play. Champions League qualification is now a distant dream but trips to Brighton and Crystal Palace offer the perfect chance to end the season on a high after the impressive 3-0 victory over Brentford.

United fans would be forgiven for wishing the season would end so that the reign of Erik ten Hag can begin. But before we can see the Dutchman’s philosophy in action, the club must first navigate their way through arguably the most important transfer window since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

Ten Hag has a very specific style of play and United will have to recruit well in the next few transfer windows to adapt the team to the Dutchman’s ways. Two of the most important players in his system are the full-backs and it is likely that the club will need to look for upgrades this summer.

READ MORE: Manchester United transfer timeline could see Erik ten Hag land top target

Luke Shaw’s place at United, however, should be safe. The England international hasn’t been at his best this season, though the same could be said of just about every other member of the squad. However, on his day he is one of the club’s best players in possession and this will make him crucial when looking to build attacks.

Shaw is also incredibly versatile and this will stand him in good stead under Ten Hag. In the Dutchman’s system, there are two major roles that a full-back can occupy: the Daley Blind role and the Noussair Mazraoui role.

Though he does get opportunities to venture up the field, the former usually acts as centre-back when Ajax are looking to build from the back. He is one of the team’s most progressive players and his ability to break through the opposition press allows Ajax to counter at speed.

Shaw has a great range of passing but he also carries the ball extremely well. And with better defensive coaching, the positioning issues he has experienced could be addressed.

Mazraoui plays a much more attacking role under Ten Hag. His average position is high up the field and he often overlaps or underlaps past Antony, allowing him to pose a threat in the final third.

This is much more in line with how Shaw plays for United. In the 2020-21 season, the Englishman formed a brilliant partnership with Marcus Rashford and he was one of United’s best attacking outlets.

It’s undoubtedly going to take time and training for United to adapt to Ten Hag’s ways. But if Shaw is able to recapture the form he has shown previously in a United shirt, his new manager’s transfer wish list may not be quite so long.

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