Breaking down the midfield setup question: Where will Donny Van de Beek play?

Many fans, United and otherwise, seem uncertain why United have made VDB a target and how will he fit in the system?
The simple answer is the team will change depending on opposition and formation.

The detailed answer's in this thread: when United play lesser opposition, we consistently struggle to break down defences and create chances which allows for a more offensive system to be deployed. Van de Beek primarily plays in the hole or on the right side of a double pivot.

Without the necessity of a holding CDM, Van de Beek can play on the right of a double pivot, with Pogba on the left. We have seen during Pogba's time at United, and his career, he plays on the left side of midfield. This system allows both players to be where they want to be

Whilst some fans are then going to suggest where is the balance in the side, it is not needed when teams sit back so deeply, offering little offensive threat and the United we all love prioritse attack before concerning themselves with setting up a defensive approach (Jose/LVG)

With Bruno obviously sitting at the top of the three, using his work rate and aggression to close down, being matched by VDB, while Pogba uses strength and will drop into a deeper playmaker role, there is a natural balance and tenacity to win the ball back and dominate possession

VDB has enough intelligence and positional awareness in his game to drop and be a ball winning midfielder when Pogba pushes down the left flank to support the attack and offer a balance to the team. Note: this formation is unlikely to be used in games against high quality teams.

When United are facing teams at a level that requires a natural holding midfielder, Matic is likely to be called upon to sit and defend with a combination of Pogba, Bruno and VDB in the more advanced roles as a pairing whilst having the other to come off the bench when required

The names who are yet to be mentioned, Fred and McTominay, will also keep their places in exactly the same systems and will be rotated as starters or from the bench depending on the competition being played or opposition United are facing.
End of thread.
Avengers, assembled.