Man United one step from unleashing Mason Mount with dream transfer after '£38m bid'

It is not a stretch to say that there weren't many functioning parts of the Manchester United team last season. Be it the void of space in front of Andre Onana's goal, unguarded by midfielders and often defenders too, or attacking play that thrived on chaos rather than plans.

Erik ten Hag's coaching were not shown out in much force on the field, even if results managed to just about keep the club afloat - and that is a generous 'just about.' If he is to stay in charge for much longer than his contract extension then this will have to change.

Ten Hag and his staff will rightly point towards injuries as a factor for why relationships across the board weren't formed and why it looked in most games like players had never met each other, let alone actually played football together. It is no surprise, then, that the areas they are looking at were most hit with absences last season.

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Luke Shaw missed all but 12 matches, including the final three months. Lisandro Martinez on the left side of defence was equally as absent with his own fitness issues. At times Aaron Wan-Bissaka was called on to play left-back, whilst Casemiro filled in centrally. Jonny Evans played 1,300 league minutes more than anticipated, and Harry Maguire became a needed figure again despite being on the chopping board for much of the summer.

United cannot allow such matters to rear themselves again, and they are so far taking a proactive approach in trying to bolster the options. Matthijs de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite at the back. Ben Chilwell reportedly is an option to support and push Shaw.