Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is all about proactivity in every sense of the word.
On the pitch, the former Ajax man wants his team to press high, with aggression, and always anticipate the opponent’s next move. Off it, Ten Hag is already thinking about back up scenarios in case the Frenkie de Jong saga ends in disappointment.
It has been a minute since there have been any concrete developments in the negotiations for the Dutch midfielder. United have reportedly agreed a deal in principle with Barcelona for his services, but the deferred wages De Jong is owed have caused an impasse.
Advert
In the meantime, De Jong joined his Barca teammates on the flight to their pre-season tour in the United States. On the other side of the globe, United are three for three on their tour of Thailand and Australia and Ten Hag is fending off questions about transfer ongoings from left and right.
Usually tight-lipped about what goes on in his club internally, Ten Hag did explain exactly what United are looking for in the transfer market and what the current plan of action is considering the De Jong situation.
“What I can say is we’re looking for a player who can play in the holding midfield position,” the United boss said in one of his media obligations. “But it has to be the right one. There are not many in that position capable of the level we demand.
Advert
“When we can’t find him, we have to deal with the players in our squad now and we will develop one in that position.”
On De Jong in particular, Ten Hag went back to his secretive ways. He said: “I will not comment on a certain player. We need the right player. We have a list and we qualify as the player who has the competence to play that role. We will strike the moment the player is available.”
From those statements, we can deduce that the Dutch boss would not be afraid to mould someone at the club into the exact profile of player he desires in his midfield. In theory, it would likely be easier to attempt such a manoeuvre with a coachable youth player, rather than a senior with years of habits – good and bad – drilled into their game.
Only time will tell how this story ends. The De Jong dream could end up being a summer-long fiasco. There is no telling when a definitive conclusion will be reached and if United will want or have the time to move for another target of similar ilk.
Advert
In the case Ten Hag chooses to go into the season with his internal development plan, here are three players currently at the club that could be moulded into that De Jong style holding midfielder.
James Garner
The 21-year-old is yet to register a minute of pre-season football on United’s tour of Thailand and the land down under but after fighting off a knock, he appears to be ready to finally enter the fold.
On paper, Garner may have the best mix of senior football experience and youth to be coached into the type of midfielder that Ten Hag so wants and needs. Over the last two seasons, Garner notched up 90 first-team appearances between loans at Watford and Nottingham Forest.
Advert
Last campaign, the midfielder helped the storied English club secure a ticket back into the Premier League. He was instrumental in their midfield and spent a season developing in a system that played some good football under Steve Cooper.
With four goals and 10 assists, Garner showed out with not only a deadly set-piece delivery but also clever decision making of when to join in the attack, when to keep things simple, and when to hold position.
Although many consider the academy graduate to be a classic box-to-box midfielder, most of Garner’s appearances across all levels of football have been deeper, in defensive midfield. Despite good attacking contributions last season, he was very much Forest’s anchor.
Advert
Garner recently spoke to MUTV about his positional flexibility. He said: “I’m not too fussed if I play as a six or eight. Throughout the academy, I played as a deeper lying six. People maybe questioned whether I could score and create but when I got to the [under] 21s, I showed I could also play box to box.
“Last season, I played as a six, eight and in the No. 10 position. For me, I enjoy six or eight, as long as I’m playing.”
The willingness to play anywhere necessary is a plus, on top of the fact that Garner is very well equipped to play anywhere across the middle of the park.
United have been crying out for a ball playing six that can link play in recent years. Over the last few seasons, at various levels, Garner has shown an excellent passing range and an adept ability to break lines and evade the press with good ball carrying and ball progression.
All of the above suggest that he could well be shaped into the ideal holding midfielder under Ten Hag. Whether he makes his debut against Villa and where he plays will tell us a lot about the United boss’ plans for the 21-year-old.
Donny van de Beek
After a slightly lacklustre start to life at Old Trafford, the former Ajax man has been handed a bit of a United lifeline with his former boss taking over at the club.
Though Ten Hag has already stressed that Van de Beek will have to earn his spot just like everyone else, despite their past together, the Dutch boss knows exactly how to get the best out of the midfielder and the 25-year-old will be chomping at the bit to prove a lot of doubters wrong.
If the Dutchman had to choose, his preferred position would certainly be higher up the pitch. However, with Bruno being rock solid up there and the arrival of Christian Eriksen, the avenue to regular game time may have become even more complex.
That is unless Van de Beek refocuses and opts to play wherever he is needed — which he claims he is ready to do.
“I have to play where the team needs me,” United’s No. 34 said in an interview with ESPN earlier this week. “I can play as a 10, but also an eight. One of my strengths is to come in the box, make a goal or give an assist, but I like to be on the ball as well.”
The last part of that quote is of huge importance here.
Van de Beek is indeed comfortable on the ball and has all the tools to over time become a De Jong type of player. The midfielder would just have to readjust from notching up regular goal contributions to progressing the ball and keeping things ticking in the middle of the park.
Van de Beek has shown his capability of playing in the engine room in the past — both for Ajax and United. He is technically sound, can throw himself about, and not afraid of absorbing the press and beating it with an array of passes.
If utilized in the role that De Jong would be, should he put pen to paper at the Theatre of Dreams, Van de Beek would also be granted a license to get involved with attacks and make late runs into the box — so goal contributions would not be out of the question.
It feels as though this season is rather make or break for the Dutchman’s United career. And although getting games as a final third operator will not be easy, there is a position there for the midfielder to make his own — especially if United fail to sign his Barcelona compatriot.
Zidane Iqbal
Perhaps to the surprise of many, the 19-year-old midfielder has played the most pre-season minutes of all the traveling academy graduates on tour so far.
Iqbal’s extended involvement was somewhat unexpected as he was buried deep into the fringes of the first-team last season. He did not feature in another matchday squad after a substitute cameo first-team debut in a meaningless Champions League game.
However, with that said, the United faithful were no strangers to the Iraq international’s talent. Iqbal started making noise in the academy as more of an attacking midfielder. His impressive contributions during pre-season have occurred slightly deeper, in a midfield two.
The Manchester Evening News covered Iqbal’s rise in the academy earlier this year, revealing that the talented midfielder models his game after Mesut Ozil and De Jong. So, who better to fill that void should the Dutchman not strengthen United’s ranks this summer?
Iqbal has featured in all three of the Reds’ pre-season games so far and has made lasting impressions in all of them. Very silky on the ball, the 19-year-old has shown maturity beyond his years against players of significantly more experience.
Perhaps the most impressive have been Iqbal’s natural instincts and ability to recognize when the play needs to be slowed down or sped up. Deft touches, accurate passes, and eyes all around his head make him an excellent candidate for that holding midfield role. He does exactly what the position calls for.
Iqbal always makes himself available for the ball and is comfortable in dropping deep and receiving under pressure. He says that he has wanted to be in the middle of all the action ever since he can remember.
“It has been a part of my game since I was young, always wanting the ball,” Iqbal said, fulfilling one of United’s pre-season media duties. “I have told myself that this could be the only chance I get in the first team. I just do what I do and whatever is meant to be, will be. I will have no regrets.”
The hunger has been visible in Iqbal’s play and he has done an excellent job raising the eyebrows of many with his performances. Judging by the way he has been utilized by Ten Hag so far, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that the Dutch boss has had the De Jong role in mind.
Iqbal is always around the centre circle, ready to receive and move the ball forward. He has been uncharacteristically calm on the ball for a young player. Most tend to have erratic touches and make questionable decisions, but not Zidane. He looks ready to contribute.
Ten Hag sees that and appreciates the midfielders talent. The belief in Iqbal’s abilities can be seen with the boss demanding more from the teenager during a training drill earlier this week. However, he still needs to see more to make a definitive decision regarding his future.
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Football, Frenkie De Jong, James Garner, Manchester United, Premier League, Zidane Iqbal, Donny van de Beek
Arion Armeniakos