Manchester United dream XI with Manuel Ugarte and double centre-back signings

Erik ten Hag has three key targets perfectly laid out as the Manchester United manager hopes to improve his squad for the upcoming campaign.

This is the first summer window that the club have had since fresh backing from Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived, and the billionaire is on course to throw his cheque book at numerous additions to the squad. For some time, there was confusion as to whether that would be under the current manager's watch, though a long process culminated in Ten Hag being handed the confidence of the board to oversee an improvement on last season.

Business is set to be done strategically, though, with frivolous spending - whether that be because of United's or the selling club's marked-up valuations - a thing of yesteryear. The basis of a strong squad capable of development is there; it just requires smart additions in line with important exits.

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The first area identified for an upgrade is midfield, particularly the defensive aspect of Ten Hag's engine room.

Kobbie Mainoo's emergence has sealed the long-term future of one quality option for the Dutchman, arriving at the perfect time as the form of Casemiro dwindled compared to his first year in English football. Christian Eriksen could not be relied upon as heavily either, so a new, younger recruit seems like the best route to take to rediscover success at Old Trafford.

Casemiro, recently linked to Fenerbahce, should be allowed to move on, begrudgingly at a loss for Ratcliffe and Co but that was a prospect United surely understood when signing