Three players who could benefit if Erik ten Hag is replaced at Manchester United

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This week looks pivotal surrounding the future of Erik ten Hag with games against FC Porto and Aston Villa potentially pivotal

After Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup final, things were supposed to improve under Erik ten Hag, particularly with the new signings that have been brought in under the Dutchman during the 2024 summer transfer window.

United lost 3-0 to Liverpool before following that up with defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion near the beginning of the season.

Ten Hag joined United in April of 2022 and has spent two and a half years at Old Trafford but his time in the North of England is certainly in the balance. Some players could well benefit from the Dutchman’s rumoured departure, here are three names who could well excel without the Dutchman.

Amad Diallo

Amad Diallo is an interesting player. Benni McCarthy hailed Amad as an ‘incredible’ player but the Ivorian has not quite been given consistent first-team opportunities under Ten Hag.

Ten Hag decided to drop Amad for games against Tottenham and Liverpool which certainly did not work out in the Dutchman’s favour.

There is little doubting his creative qualities and with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho preferring to run in behind, Amad provides that creative spark that has helped the forward line.

However, Ten Hag seems to prefer the work rate of Garnacho, particularly for the big games, but that would surely change under a different manager.

Mason Mount

Since Mason Mount moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2023 from Chelsea, the English midfielder has been ravaged by injury issues.

Mount has had a plethora of injury problems at United but perhaps under a new manager and a fresh start the Englishman could finally blossom into the player he is capable of.

With Bruno Fernandes starting week in, and week out, Mount has not been given the chance to show what he is capable of in a Red Devils shirt in his preferred position, perhaps a new manager may be more willing to rotate.

Joshua Zirkzee

Ironically, another player who could benefit from the Dutchman’s departure is Joshua Zirkzee. The Bologna forward joined United for £34 million in the summer but has just one Premier League goal to his name.

Under Ten Hag, United play a high-intensity, counterattacking style of play which just does not suit Zirkzee’s game whatsoever.

There is an argument to say that Zirkzee could be a Bruno Fernandes alternative as the Dutchman struggles to get involved in the build-up when playing as a striker.

Under a new manager, perhaps one who wants to dominate teams with more possession, Zirkzee could well come to life at Old Trafford.