Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Erik ten Hag has got a lot of them to make this summer and no doubt some of them are already on his mind as the season approaches its climax. Manchester United have already enjoyed a transformation under the Dutchman in the few short months since his arrival. Gone is the disorganised, undisciplined rabble and now there is a cohesive, exciting and, crucially, winning team in its place.
Ten Hag got to spend a lot of money in his first summer on the likes of Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez on top of expensive signings that were already at Old Trafford, which can't be forgotten, but the work he has done has been made even more impressive by the imbalanced squad he inherited.
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United have basically played the full season with only one fit striker available at any one time. One was the ill-suited Cristiano Ronaldo, another is the perennially injured Anthony Martial and the third, Wout Weghorst, has managed two goals in 28 career Premier League appearances.
Midfield has also been light on numbers. Donny van de Beek has been out for months, Christian Eriksen has joined him on the shelf, Casemiro has been suspended far too often while Fred and Scott McTominay remain wildly inconsistent.
It's no surprise that it's those two positions United have prioritised early on for strengthening in the summer transfer market. A new, elite-level strike is an absolute must if a genuine title challenge is to be launched and though they won't be cheap, Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen would certainly do the job.
Ten Hag is also looking to bolster his midfield ranks. Casemiro and Eriksen have been excellent in their debut campaign but it would be foolish to rely on only two sublime options, especially when both players are north of 30.
It's harder to pinpoint those targets. The manager clearly adores Frenkie de Jong but he has once again reiterated his desire to remain at Barcelona. Jude Bellingham would be a sensational signing but it seems inevitable United will lose out to their neighbours or Real Madrid.
Some creative thinking may have to be applied but it's clear United want a young, highly talented player who can be their next midfield fulcrum for years to come. Which may leave Marcel Sabitzer in a precarious position.
The Austrian was drafted in on January deadline day to offset Eriksen's absence and he has enjoyed a steady if not spectacular stint in the North West so far. Sabitzer doesn't really suit the profile United want for a marquee midfield addition but there might be a way for him to make his loan permanent just yet.
While the 29-year-old isn't of the calibre of Bellingham or De Jong, he could still prove to be a very useful signing. United have learned this season that strength in depth, especially in the middle, is crucial.
While they have just about coped by having enough bodies, those in reserve have often not been good enough. Van de Beek, even under his old manager, struggled to do anything of note when given an opportunity and McTominay doesn't have the technical proficiency to effectively operate in Ten Hag's side.
United have already earmarked a handful of players to potentially be sold this summer, including Martial, Harry Maguire and Alex Telles, but at least one if not both of those struggling midfielders should be added to the list. They are not good enough and when they play the drop-off in quality is stark.
Sabitzer, on the other hand, has no such issue. He isn't as inventive as Eriksen or as dominating as Casemiro, but he is extremely competent, tidy on the ball and able to make decisive actions at both ends of the pitch.
With Casemiro in the midst of a four-game suspension, he has the perfect chance to prove his worth to Ten Hag and convince the manager to make his deal a permanent one. He made a great start by putting his side ahead against Fulham on Sunday with a classy finish and put in a strong performance.
Sabitzer can't be the only midfield signing but he is clearly a significant upgrade on United's other back-up options in Van de Beek and McTominay. Ten Hag may soon settle on the fate of all three of them.
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