Michael Owen names ‘solid’ Man Utd star as Erik ten Hag’s best summer signing

Erik ten Hag has a mixed transfer record (Picture: Getty)

Michael Owen believes that Noussair Mazraoui is Manchester United’s best signing of the summer window after the full-back’s bright start to life at Old Trafford.

It was a major summer of upheaval for United, who extended the contract of under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag but significantly revamped the club’s off-field footballing operations.

New sporting director Dan Ashworth has taken control of recruitment after successive summers which saw the club splurge huge sums to little effect.

And despite an indifferent start to the new Premier League season, United recorded a much-needed 3-0 win against Southampton.

New signing Matthijs de Ligt notched up his first United goal in the win at St Mary’s, but Owen believes it is the Dutchman’s former Bayern Munich teammate, Noussair Mazraoui, who has made the best impression so far.

‘I think Noussair Mazraoui has started the season really, really well,’ the former United striker told Genting Casino when asked about the Moroccan who has started the last five games for Ten Hag’s side.

‘I have been really impressed with him. We’re judging after a couple of games, but it’s appeared to me that he has taken to the Premier League really well.

Noussair Mazraoui has performed well so far this season for United (Picture: Getty)

‌’In the opening game he made a couple of great tackles, great interceptions, great blocks, and looked comfortable on the ball. He looked pretty solid to me for an opening game.

‌’If that’s anything to go by, considering he’s going to improve on that as well, then it could be a really good signing. The early signs are promising so he could be United’s most impressive summer signing.’

While Mazraoui could be a long-term solution at right-back, United are still deploying Diogo Dalot out of position at left-back to cover for the injury-plagued Luke Shaw.

Although the Portuguese international has deputised there to great effect, Owen believes the club may dip into the market in January to find a full-time replacement for Shaw and earmarked Fulham’s Antonee Robinson as someone for the club to consider.

‘Left-back has been quite a troublesome position for Manchester United and Antonee Robinson is a player that really never misses a game and that’s the sort of thing United need, reliable players,’ he said.

‘They have a great player in that position with Luke Shaw, but injuries are obviously something that you’ve got to take into consideration and as a manager, you’d want to bring in a player who has shown that they are reliable in terms of availability.’

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