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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Dominic Booth

How Manchester United could line-up with Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Manchester United are very close to securing the signature of Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is expected to soon become their second summer signing.

After the acquisition of Daniel James from Swansea, it will be the second 21-year-old United have signed this summer too — an example of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's emphasis on youth in the market.

Wan-Bissaka will join Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot as the main right-back options for Solskjaer, following the exit of Antonio Valencia and with Matteo Darmian likely to depart too. But how will the Norwegian boss line up his side with the young England right-back?

Here are a few selection options...

A straight swap at right-back

Young proved to be the most regularly selected right-back by both Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho last season. But the stand-in captain will soon turn 34 and most would accept he should not be a first-choice pick for United.

Dalot was signed last summer to vie with Valencia for the berth, though was used more often by Solskjaer as a utility player, filling in higher up the pitch and only occasionally as a right-back.

With expected for Wan-Bissaka, it's fair to expect him to jump ahead of Dalot and Young in the pecking order and solidify himself as the de facto right-back for years to come.

In Solskjaer's 4-3-3 (or 4-4-2 diamond), Wan-Bissaka could line up on the right-hand side of a defence that also includes Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling (or a new centre-back, if one is signed) and Luke Shaw.

Wan-Bissaka and Dalot in the same side

Could Solskjaer squeeze both his young right-backs into the same side? Dalot is an improving player who will be pushing for more first-team football when the new season begins and ought to be an automatic pick.

One system they could both feature in would be a wing-back formation, possibly a 3-4-3 in the mould of Antonio Conte's title-winning Chelsea outfit from 2016-17, a system which has regularly been aped since.

Wan-Bissaka is the more naturally defensive player so could play on the right of a three-man defence and Dalot, with his attacking instincts, would enjoy the freedom of a right wing-back position. Shaw would be the left wing-back.

Can Wan-Bissaka play anywhere else?

The 21-year-old spent his formative years as a winger, so Solskjaer might want to consider — perhaps as a Plan B or C — playing him further up the field, with perhaps Young providing a wiser head behind him on the right flank.

With James more natural on the left — like Antony Martial and Marcus Rashford — this could be an opportunity for Solskjaer to try out a new right-winger; Wan-Bissaka and Dalot both competing for a right-midfield spot in a 4-4-2, or similar.

It may be viewed as negative to include Wan-Bissaka and Young in the same side, but it could be a system Solskjaer trials in pre-season.

Pick your own United team with Wan-Bissaka included, below:

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