Man Utd have already decided next four transfers after disastrous start to new season

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United will reportedly look to pursue deals for a new defender, midfielder, winger and left-back next year after winning just one out of their first three Premier League games this season. The Dutchman’s team were put to the sword 3-0 by rivals Liverpool in their last outing, and improvements are evidently being eyed.

The Red Devils spent heavily this window, backing Ten Hag after he was handed a contract extension in the summer. New forward Joshua Zirkzee was purchased for £36.5million, along with a trio of top defenders – Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui. At the end of the window, a new enforcer, Manuel Ugarte, arrived to shore up their squad in midfield, but he is yet to make his debut since joining from PSG.

So far, the investment has not appeared to have paid off on the pitch, and while calls are growing once again for Ten Hag to be relieved of his duties, the club’s hierarchy seem to already be looking ahead towards upcoming transfer plans.

Despite the arrivals of De Ligt, £52m 18-year-old Yoro and new starting right-back Mazraoui this summer, a new defender is on their wishlist, along with the aforementioned other positions, according to a report by the Manchester Evening News.

While no concrete defensive target has yet been named, it can be assumed that a deal for Everton centre-back starlet Jarrad Branthwaite, whom the club failed to sign after seeing offers of £43m and £50m rejected, will continue to be monitored.

The 22-year-old’s £70m valuation was too much for the Red Devils this window, and youngster Yoro was preferred. But with Branthwaite being a homegrown player and looking full of promise for the Toffees last campaign, it could be that their interest is rekindled.

Crystal Palace’s dynamic attacker Eberechi Eze has been revealed in the report as a potential target, and he could fill either the winger or midfielder position that United desire.

After losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, the Eagles may have expected Eze to follow him out the door this summer, but despite rumoured interest from Tottenham and Manchester City, no move materialised.

It has now been suggested that the 26-year-old, whose £68m release clause can be reactivated next summer, has emerged as a potential recruit for Ten Hag’s team. Eze can be incorporated out wide or centrally, but United will supposedly look to bring another star who can play a similar position to the Englishman.

With Christian Eriksen’s contract expiring in 2025 and Casemiro seemingly likely to leave the club soon, another midfielder will be targeted if Eze is preferred out wide, and vice versa.

A left-back is the last item on United’s agenda. Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have proven far too injury-prone during their time at Old Trafford, and natural right-back Diogo Dalot currently fills the position.

22-year-old Girona defender Miguel Gutierrez saw his name linked with a move to United this summer after securing Champions League football in his homeland, so a move for the Spaniard could be re-established in a year’s time, or another player earmarked altogether.

If all goes according to plan, new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe will supposedly look to break the bank for the third consecutive summer window as he continues his attempts to breathe life back into the faltering United.