New Manchester United signing will bring what the team has been missing for two years, claims MUTV pundit

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Manchester United are looking forward to the new signings gelling once the international break is over.

The first three games before the international break are always tricky to negotiate. The transfer window was still open, very few key players have had a full pre-season, and the matches are intense.

In Erik ten Hag’s first season, he won just one of three games before the break. Last season he won two of four. And this time around he is back at square one with just one victory from three attempts.

There is hope United’s five new major signings will begin to bed in after the international break, and in Leny Yoro’s case, when he recovers from injury.

Manuel Ugarte backed by Wes Brown

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes Manuel Ugarte could have the clearest impact of all the new arrivals.

Ugarte tied up a £42 million move from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day, and the new number 25 is renowned for his ball-winning abilities.

After a very shaky midfield performance against Liverpool, Ugarte’s arrival looks perfectly timed.

Wes Brown told MUTV’s The Debate that he believes Ugarte’s know-how will prove extremely valuable for the team.

Brown said: “We missed a balance in the midfield, you could see that against Liverpool. He’s a defensive-minded midfielder, hopefully he sees that [lack of balance], he can be that guy in those spaces.

“He knows where he’s running, he knows where to stand, even in attack I think its very important.

“I think we’ve missed it for a couple of years now.”

• READ: Who is Manuel Ugarte? Everything you need to know on Uruguay midfielder

Manchester United’s new Nemanja Matic

The question Brown’s comments raise, is when exactly did Manchester United really last have a top notch defensive midfielder?

Casemiro was supposed to be exactly that. And initially he was. But his career at the club has been a complicated one.

Whether by his own design or Erik ten Hag’s instructions, Casemiro is playing with freedom he didn’t enjoy at Real Madrid, and trying to get forward up and down the pitch like a ‘number eight’ rather than a defensive midfielder.

Crucially, Casemiro’s decline due to his age has meant he cannot get around to defend the spaces even if he wanted to.

Before this, United’s last true proper defensive midfielder was Nemanja Matic, signed under Jose Mourinho back in 2017.

Outstanding at first, Matic also saw his talents decline with age. United should have more optimism over Ugarte.

Ugarte is only 23, with his best years still ahead of him. He was highly regarded by PSG fans, and if he can do the impossible and fix United’s midfield, the Uruguayan will become an instant hero.