Manchester United’s first pre-season under Erik ten Hag is officially underway, with a portion of the first-team squad reporting to Carrington on Monday.
The Dutchman was hoping to have a raft of new players in attendance for his first session, but the club’s efforts to sign reinforcements have so far come up short. That could change this week however, with reports suggesting a deal for Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong could be close.
His signing could signal the start of the influx of players having identified the Netherlands international as the priority target for his first window in the Old Trafford dugout. After the midfielder’s arrival it is expected attention will shift to signing a versatile forward player, before attempting to land a central defender and a full-back.
But for now, it’s the players already in the United squad who will be given a chance to impress the new boss. In the first few days of the summer window, it is expected that the squad will undertake a variety of tests, before the gruelling summer schedule begins.
The players involved on Monday included a number with a point to prove to the new boss, such as Donny van de Beek. The 25-year-old is now entering his third season as a United player, having endured a miserable pair so far.
Van de Beek spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton, but having played his best football under Ten Hag at Ajax, he is hoping to finally make a breakthrough at his parent club.
"We had a fantastic squad in that time at Ajax,” Ten Hag said of Van de Beek. “I really had a good relationship with him. Of course I am looking forward to meeting him again on the pitch."
United’s Players’ Player of the Season from a dismal 2021/22 campaign, David de Gea, reported to the club’s training base having been omitted from Spain’s latest squads. Tom Heaton joined the first choice ‘keeper and looks set for a more prominent role in the squad with Dean Henderson set to join Nottingham Forest.
Phil Jones and Brandon Williams are two players that have been heavily linked with summer exits, but until a deal is agreed, they will be a part of the pre-season schedule in Manchester. According to reports, Williams has been told he is free to find a new club, while his more senior colleague is looking to complete an exit himself.
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Steve McClaren was said to be the first to enter the gates, arriving before 8am as Ten Hag’s assistant makes his return to the club, more than 20 years after holding the same position with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ten Hag appeared shortly after the former England manager, with the select players called in for testing reporting a couple of hours later. The former Ajax boss and his team of coaches will have around two weeks with the squad before they fly out for their pre-season tour which begins with a game against Liverpool in Bangkok on July 12.
In total, United will play six games during a hectic three-week schedule, including two more matches against Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. The competitive stuff then begins a week later against Brighton at home - an acid test against an opponent which thrashed them 4-0 in the penultimate game of last season.
