Manchester United transfer holes emerge after £150m triple blow to Erik ten Hag plan

Manchester United will start this season with at least the best part of £150 million worth of players unavailable for selection.

The absence of Tyrell Malacia was perhaps to be expected as the player continues rehabilitating from two rounds of knee surgery. But the news of Leny Yoro fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot is a bitter blow, no matter how hard United try to treat it as a positive.

Both defenders will be out until October. That is the month after Rasmus Hojlund is set to return after six weeks on the sideline with a hamstring injury.

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The fact that the first two significant setbacks of the season have come in positions United have signed players in this summer is something they can take solace from. Joshua Zirkzee not joining from Bologna last month would have left the team looking as threadbare up front as they finished last season.

However, it also highlights that the club have yet to strengthen the squad during a summer of change at Old Trafford. Zirkzee is effectively a replacement for Anthony Martial no matter how much of last term the forward missed.

The same goes for Yoro, who it is not a stretch to say is now the heir to Raphael Varane for club and country. Sanctioning the sale of Willy Kambwala to Villarreal means they have even less depth than last season, even before the injury to Yoro.

Only three senior central defenders are available to manager Erik ten Hag until Lisandro Martinez returns from his extended break after the Copa America. United ultimately hope to offset that by selling Victor