MANCHESTER UNITED could switch to a new formation this season once they complete the signing of Manuel Ugarte.
Erik ten Hag is closing in on his fifth summer recruit after a £51million deal was agreed with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ugarte will join Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in joining the Red Devils this summer.
His arrival bolsters Ten Hag’s midfield and even opens the door to a possible system change in order to play all five signings.
Here is how United could line-up once they sign Ugarte.
Ten Hag was forced to contend with countless injury woes last season and will be hoping to avoid a repeat this season.
With his best players fully fit, he will likely stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation with Ugarte partnering Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.
Meanwhile, Zirkzee would lead the line, allowing Bruno Fernandes to revert back to his more familiar attacking midfield role.
The club captain has featured in a more advanced position for the first two matches this term.
Elsewhere, De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez form a new centre-back partnership, with Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw either side.
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With his addition of two centre-backs this summer, a formation change may be needed for Ten Hag to get all five of his signings in the same team.
A switch to a three-man defence would allow for De Ligt and Yoro to feature, with Martinez still keeping his place.
Mazraoui and Shaw would also appear as wing-backs in the new look system.
Further forward, Zirkzee would likely be part of a two-player frontline with Rasmus Hojlund his expected partner.
In midfield, Ugarte, Mainoo and Fernandes could start in an array of combinations.
Sticking with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, Ten Hag has options with the depth he has added this summer.
United’s transfer business is expected to help the club better deal with an injury issues without drastically losing talent in the side.
In an alternative line-up, Mazraoui is able to come in at right-back for Dalot.
Garnacho is also capable of moving to the left to incorporate Amad Diallo after his impressive start to the campaign.
Hojlund, now with the No9 shirt, could even earn a starting role ahead of Zirkzee this season.
