Erik ten Hag hopes that Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will solve Manchester United's 'problems' in defence.
Dutch centre-back De Ligt will join United for an initial £38.6m in a successful conclusion to Ten Hag's month-long charm offensive. In addition, the Red Devils are also preparing to welcome Morocco full-back Mazraoui - another former Ajax star - for £12.9m, with United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to leave for West Ham in a £15m deal.
News of the deals being agreed with German giants Bayern broke just a few hours before United suffered a penalty shootout defeat to bitter rivals Manchester City in Saturday's Community Shield fixture. During the second half, Ten Hag had to use winger Facundo Pellistri as a makeshift right-back, highlighting his lack of options in defence due to multiple injuries.
"It's clear we have the problems," Ten Hag admitted post-match. "We have to work, the players have to work to be available and the staff have to work. Together it should be a good collaboration with the players who are available."
Asked to comment on De Ligt and Mazraoui's impending arrivals and Wan-Bissaka's exit, the Red Devils boss replied: "No, I can't. When we have some news, we will announce it. Until that point, we will work with the squad that is available."
Ten Hag has previously spoken of his desire to bring De Ligt to Old Trafford, with the 24-year-old having been captain of the Ajax side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.
"I know Matthijs well and I will not deny that," he revealed to outlet AD Sportwereld, with De Ligt now set to put pen to paper on a five-year contract. "I wanted to sign him two years ago but at that time he was already very far along to join Bayern Munich but believe it or not, his name did not come from me in the process [at United]."
Mazraoui, 26, is less of a high-profile signing but the fact he can play as both a right-back and left-back should result in him making plenty of appearances over the course of this season. The Dutch-born Morocco international heaped praise on Ten Hag before they both left Ajax in the summer 2022.
"It was great to work with Erik ten Hag," Mazraoui told Voetbal Primeur. "He helped me in the beginning mainly on a tactical level, but then also with all kinds of other things, such as my lifestyle and my attacking development. [He is] a top coach, who has been very important to me and with whom we have achieved great successes."