Football
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag wants more at Old Trafford
National Daily newspaper can confirm that Erik ten Hag has admitted that he wants to make further signings at Old Trafford before the transfer window closes.
The Red Devils have spent around £170million this summer to recruit Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.
The club had set a net spend budget of around £120m, and they’ve recouped cash through the £15m sale of Anthony Elanga to Nottingham Forest, the £12m departure of Fred to Fenerbahce and Matej Kovar’s £8m exit.
United have accepted a £30m bid from West Ham for Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek could leave on a permanent basis.
Should that duo depart, United will be short in defence and in midfield, while Anthony Martial’s injury record means he cannot be relied upon in attack.
And, while Ten Hag acknowledges managers do not always get what they want, he admits he wants to make further signings.
Asked about further signings, Ten Hag said: ‘I will always want more! But I think every manager you could ask would also want more.
‘But it is about the mentality; in top football we are talking about the demand, the absolute maximum. Because we demand that from our players and, in their defence, they expect it from us.
‘We are looking for the perfect situation but you never get the perfect situation. Then you have to come into your place and work for that, maybe with not the perfect situation but the perfect results.’
Sofyan Amrabat, the Fioretina midfielder, remains a key target for Ten Hag.
United will look to recruit a centre-back if Maguire leaves, with Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard high on the shortlist.
