Manchester United’s possible 20-man Premier League squad vs Wolves including Rasmus Hojlund

Man United are set to complete the signing of Rasmus Hojlund and here’s how the squad could look against Wolves.

Erik ten Hag has completed the first phase of Manchester United’s rebuilding.

Rasmus Hojlund has joined Old Trafford from Atalanta for a fee of up to £72m. United were in dire need of a good centre-forward to lead the line and share the load with Marcus Rashford in the goal department and now they finally have their man.

The huge transfer fee takes United’s spending this summer to £179.2m, on top of the £220m Ten Hag spent strengthening the squad he inherited last year. It’s a lot of work, but the Dutchman has completely changed the face of his team in the last 12 months.

Only two of Ten Haga’s new signings started their first competitive game with a first-day defeat by Brighton. But this time around, half of the squad could be in his hands, with the rest made up of players he’s helped improve immensely, such as Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw.

In the decade since Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United have been a motley team, a crumbling team badly patched together by different managers, each with different ideas and visions. There was no consistency or identity and Ten Hag had to convey that with his training and transfers.

That hard work will be reflected in the Premier League starting line-up for the new season when United take on Wolves on 14 August. The biggest change will come between the posts with Andre Onana.

David de Gea’s struggle with the ball at his feet held United back last season and a much-needed move from a modern day goalkeeper to Onana could completely change the way United drive, defend and build their game.

The defence should look fairly similar to last season with no major additions added in that area just yet. Jonny Evans has been signed on a short-term deal so he can take part in pre-season and may yet be offered a deal given Harry Maguire’s future is uncertain. Tyrell Malacia is currently sidelined so might be unavailable against Julen Lopetegui’s side.

The big addition in midfield comes in the shape of Mason Mount. Though Casemiro and Christian Eriksen formed an excellent partnership last season, they are both in their 30s and can’t be relied upon to play every single game.

Mount fixes that issue by presumably coming in to take Eriksen’s place in the side and making the creative Dane a great squad option to come in and off the bench. Fred is still at the club for now but is up for sale as he enters the final year of his contract and could be sold by the time the season starts.

Exciting youngster Kobbie Mainoo would be in the squad but he suffered an ill-timed injury in pre-season which will see him miss the start of the campaign. His injury may well see Scott McTominay stay in Manchester despite interest from West Ham, though United are also open to signing Sofyan Amrabat. The injury may also have handed a reprieve to Donny van de Beek who could take a spot in the squad though his future remains uncertain.

Hojlund is the big addition in attack and finally gives Ten Hag a reliable striker option after he struggled last season with Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst. Figures at United concede the Dane’s youth and inexperience means he might not be able to start every game which could lead to Martial or Rashford starting up front on occasions to ease the pressure on their new rough diamond.

Martial is yet to play in pre-season as he recovers from yet another injury but United do have plenty of potential in attack, with Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho also likely to be in the squad.

How United’s 20-man matchday squad could look against Wolves:

Goalkeepers: Onana, Heaton

Defenders: Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw

Midfielders: Casemiro, Mount, Eriksen, McTominay, Fernandes, Van de Beek

Forwards: Hojlund, Rashford, Antony, Sancho, Garnacho