Manchester United have completed some more important business in this year’s summer transfer window after confirming the double signing of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraouias well as the departure of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The defensive duo both played under Erik ten Hag during his time in charge of the impressive young team from 2019 and were heavily linked with an estimated £60 million joint-move from German giants Bayern Munich to Man United last week.
With injuries to fellow new signing Leny Yoro, who is now set to be out for up to three months, the club had little choice but to re-bolster their backline with another centre-back and full-back, especially given the extensive list of players that ended up on the physio table last season.
As a result, it looks as though new sporting director Dan Ashworth and co have moved quickly ahead of the 2024/25 campaign getting underway this Friday, 13 August and pulled the trigger on both defenders, with de Ligt and Mazraoui unveiled as new United players virtually in tandem on Tuesday night.
Then their youngest-ever captain, de Ligt was one of the most admired players in the aforementioned Ajax squad that ten Hag led to the Champions League semi-finals. He was one of several rising stars snapped up as the promising side was raided by big teams around Europe over the months following.
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After lifting the latest in a long line of Dutch titles that year, he then joined Juventus for around £65m, where he also won the league and a Coppa Italia, before joining Bayern in 2022 and winning a domestic double there too.
However, despite winning everywhere he’s been so far, the 25-year-old struggled to find his best form in Serie A and dropped out of the line starting XI as Munich conceded the Bundesliga trophy to Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 campaign.
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While club legend Paul Scholes has expressed concerns over de Ligt’s recent lack of playing time and the fact that former Spurs star Eric Dier’s introduction into the back four has rendered him a “second-rate” defender, the hope is clearly that he will once again shine under his previous coach.
As for Mazraoui, the 26-year-old Morrocan right-back is effectively set to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has been in and out of the United squad with injuries and simply falling second fiddle to the more attacking wing-back talents of Diogo Dalot.
Having now officially unveiled both new signings, they pair mark a total of 11 transfers that ten Hag has made involving a player either from the Netherlands or who has represented a team in the Eredivisie since arriving at Old Trafford.
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Wan-Bissaka officially joined West Ham on Tuesday, 13 August in a deal reportedly worth around £15m, a full £30m less than what they paid for him back in 2019.
He made nearly 200 appearances for the Red Devils.
Having already brought in two players in Yoro and another Dutch connection with Joshua Zirkzee, de Ligt and Mazraoui are the third and fourth signings of the summer, as well as the new INEOS era.
Speaking on the move, de Ligt said: “Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”
Adding similar in his own welcome statement, Ashworth described Mazraoui as “a dynamic, attacking full-back who can play on both the right and left side of defence”, adding, “His experience and versatility will make him an excellent addition to our squad.
Elsewhere over in the blue half of the city, Premier League champions and freshly-crowned Community Shield holders Manchester City have bid goodbye to striker Julián Álvarez after they reached a club-record deal with Atlético Madrid.
Antoine Semenyo has officially joined Manchester City
Danny Jones
Yes, Man City have got their man and further bolstered their offensive options, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo having officially joined the club.
Having emerged as one of the Premier League’s hottest properties over the past couple of years, Antoine Semenyo has gone from not only being an extremely prolific winger, but beyond a flavour of the month, with multiple teams expressing their interest in recent months.
That being said, despite being linked with local rivals Manchester United, current champions Liverpool and an already heavily staffed Chelsea side, MCFC have now won the race to sign Semenyo – one they seem to have been leading since the start.
Finally unveiled by club media on Friday, 9 January, Semenyo was pictured for the first time in the sky blue strip.
It was long after that the first reports of the deal being ‘agreed in principle” surfaced online, and it became clear that no other suitors stood a chance of snatching him away from the Etihad Stadium.
Semenyo’s release clause was set at £65 million, which is approximately the same figure they sold former striker Dominic Solanke to Spurs for, but inevitable add-ons and bonuses were likely to set a rough club record fee in terms of player sales.
Penning a five-and-a-half-year deal, the 26-year-old’s contract will take him through to at least 2031, with the London-born Ghanaian international still yet to hit his peak.
Frightening stuff for Premier League defenders, to say the least.
Sharing a message with his new fan base via the full club statement, Semenyo said: “I am so proud to have joined Manchester City…
“They have set the highest of standards, and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep. I have so much scope for improvement, so to be at this club, at this stage of my career, is perfect for me. It’s a real privilege to be here.
“My best football is yet to come, I am sure of that. And City are in a great position – still involved in four competitions. I really feel I can help them have a strong second half of the season. The Etihad is my new home. I can’t wait to play in front of the fans here, and I hope to show everyone what I can do.”
Happy with the business, Blues? And as for you neutrals, do you think it’s the right next step for him?
Watch Semenyo’s first full interview as a Manchester City player.
Manchester United fans planning another major protest amid more upheaval around the club
Danny Jones
Manchester United supporters look set to stage another high-profile demonstration in protest against the INEOS Sports ownership group.
This is the latest response to the club’s continuing struggles, and not just the first proper organised mobilisation of the year, but the first since the most recent major march last spring.
Following the sacking of ‘manager’ Ruben Amorim, despite co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his board of executives insisting that the Portuguese head coach (that distinction proving to be a crucial detail), the local sporting giants are once again starting from scratch and looking for another replacement boss.
With that in mind, militant fan group The 1958 announced their most recent protest ahead of a home fixture next month in a rather bold fashion…
As announced we protest against this dysfunctional co-ownership before Fulham.
Yep, neither Amorim, Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, nor any face even remotely associated with Old Trafford/Carrington is safe from an AI parody.
As for The 1958 group’s actual protest plans, speaking via the BBC this week, the supporters’ trust has confirmed that they will be making a vocal statement outside the stadium on Sunday, 1 February.
Travelling Reds already made their thoughts known with a very blunt, provocative and somewhat controversial banner in the away end at Turf Moor for the 2-2 draw against Burnley.
With Man United approaching a third-round FA Cup tie against Brighton and two big games in the form of a Manchester Derby at home and a trip to Arsenal, they have decided to choose the Fulham game at Old Trafford to stage the march.
Despite admitting that the results under Amorim were no way near good enough, they insist that the – most notably the overarching and Glazer family shadow ever looming over the organisation.
Further details around the actual timings and locations are still yet to be shared by the organisers, but you can expect this to be a well-attended, large-scale event.
Often convening at The Tollgate pub near regular matchday tram stop, Trafford Bar, before walking down Talbot Road towards the ground itself, we imagine Reds will then descend upon the Theatre of Dreams in their thousands.
In case you didn’t already surmise from the video itself, Ratcliffe and co. will be no doubt the subject of the usual chants, as well as more banners and flags.
What do you make of the latest plans, Man United fans?
Nothing will ever be quite as bold as the infamous Old Trafford break-in from 2022 (Credit: The Manc)
Danny Jones -
13th August 2024 
