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Erik ten Hag transfer preference emerges as Manchester United linked with two players

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Manchester United remain keen on new signings this month and Noussair Mazraoui could be the next man in for Erik ten Hag.

Ineos are leading their first summer transfer window at Manchester United and they have at least managed to get a couple of deals done.

Joshua Zirkzee has arrived from Bologna with the striker ready to offer support for Rasmus Hojlund in the final third.

Wonderkid defender Leny Yoro has signed too, but is already facing three months on the sidelines through injury.

United certainly need more additions and may actually start the season without a new signing in the starting XI.

Erik ten Hag will be hoping for movement in the coming days and one target appears to have been settled on.

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Erik ten Hag stance on Noussair Mazraoui

The United boss seemingly wants to add another full back this summer.

Diogo Dalot was superb last season but Luke Shaw endured injury problem after injury problem.

Tyrell Malacia hasn’t played in over a year and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is expected to join West Ham United.

Another full back has become a priority and Ten Hag has made his preference clear.

The Athletic claim that Inter Milan have an interest in Wan-Bissaka, fancying a swap deal which would see Denzel Dumfries join United.

However, Ten Hag is understood to have a preference towards signing Noussair Mazraoui instead.

United failed with a double bid for Bayern Munich pair Mazraoui and Matthis de Ligt last week.

Mazraoui wants to join United but has been left waiting for a deal to be thrashed out between the two clubs.

Dumfries may be on the radar as a backup option, with Ten Hag seemingly preferring a deal for Mazraoui.

Versatility and familiarity the key with Mazraoui

We can absolutely understand that stance from Ten Hag and would agree with the United boss.

Firstly, Mazraoui has played plenty of games as left back over the course of his career.

Replacing Wan-Bissaka with another specialist right back to sit behind Dalot wouldn’t have really been a wise investment.

Yet by adding Mazraoui, who can play on both sides, United are not only adding new competition for Dalot but also a player who can cover for Shaw and Malacia.

Dalot has similar versatility too, but adding another player with that same flexibility suits this United situation well.

There is also a familiarity aspect too given that Ten Hag coached Mazraoui during their time together at Ajax.

Ten Hag has already reunited with his former players such as Andre Onana, Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Sofyan Amrabat at United.

Mazraoui could continue that trend and may well be a huge factor in Ten Hag’s reasoning for preferring him over Dumfries.