Manchester United is on the brink of signing Bayern Munich’s right-back Noussair Mazraoui, having agreed to a fee between £15 million and £20 million. However, the deal’s completion hinges on the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to finance the transfer.
Mazraoui, 26, had been on the verge of joining West Ham United, but that deal fell through. Now, the London club is interested in acquiring Wan-Bissaka. Negotiations are ongoing, as a suitable price has yet to be agreed upon. Previously, West Ham had settled on a fee of £12.6 million plus £2.3 million in add-ons with Bayern Munich for Mazraoui.
Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag, who coached Mazraoui during his tenure at Ajax from 2018 to 2022, is keen to reunite with the Moroccan international. Ten Hag believes Mazraoui’s presence could significantly boost the performance of Brazilian winger Antony. The duo formed a formidable partnership on Ajax’s right flank during their Eredivisie title-winning seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22.
For the Mazraoui transfer to materialize, Wan-Bissaka must first leave Old Trafford. The 25-year-old defender, who was signed from Crystal Palace for £45 million in June 2019, has just one year remaining on his contract. United is looking to recoup around £15 million from his sale.
Adding to Manchester United’s defensive concerns, the left-back position is also problematic. First-choice left-back Luke Shaw is not part of the club’s current U.S. tour due to his involvement in the European Championship and his history of injuries.
Shaw’s deputy, Tyrell Malacia, missed the entire last season due to a knee injury and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at United’s Carrington training complex. This leaves United potentially needing to enter the market for a new left-back as well, although any new acquisition would similarly depend on generating funds through player sales.
Mazraoui’s potential arrival at Old Trafford is seen as a strategic move to strengthen United’s defense and provide tactical flexibility. His ability to support Antony on the right wing, a role he excelled in at Ajax, could prove invaluable. Antony has struggled to find consistency at United, and Ten Hag believes Mazraoui’s familiarity with his playing style could help unlock the Brazilian’s potential.
The delay in finalizing Mazraoui’s transfer underscores United’s current financial strategy, which relies heavily on balancing incoming and outgoing transfers.
As negotiations continue, Manchester United fans will be keenly watching to see if the club can successfully navigate these transfer dealings. The potential addition of Mazraoui, coupled with resolving the left-back conundrum, could significantly bolster United’s defensive options for the upcoming season. However, the successful execution of these plans hinges on the club’s ability to offload players like Wan-Bissaka and potentially others to free up the necessary funds.
With the transfer window still open, United has time to finalize these crucial moves, but the pressure is on to ensure that the squad is adequately strengthened to compete on multiple fronts in the 2024-25 season.
