Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United plan to sign three new players in the summer when new manager Erik ten Hag takes over
According to ESPN (h/t Daily Mail), Manchester United are planning to sign three new players in the summer ahead of a squad rebuild when incoming new manager Erik ten Hag takes over ahead of the new season.
The Dutchman is currently in charge of Ajax Amsterdam, trying to help the side win a hat-trick of Eredivisie titles in his final season at the club, with the defending champions sitting pretty on top of the league table.
He will take charge of the United first-team as the permanent manager in the summer when incumbent Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick sees his tenure as interim manager expire at the end of the season. Rangnick was appointed on a short-term basis late last year.
With the club struggling in the Premier League this campaign, and unable to deliver trophies in over five years, the English side is aiming for a squad overhaul in the upcoming transfer window. It is said that they have identified the need for a new striker and at least one midfielder on a priority basis.
Three targets identified for the summer
A goalscorer is required ahead of the new season given how poor the Red Devils have been in front of goal this term, and the Old Trafford outfit has been interested in signing Darwin Nunez from Benfica. However, the Portuguese giants will not entertain requests for a deal until clubs match the €130m price tag they have set for their Uruguayan ace.
Midfield may be a priority on United’s shopping list, but the Premier League club are also eyeing central defenders after their current crop of defensive options has failed to impress. Villarreal star Pau Torres is one of the names that have been suggested to ten Hag, while intermediaries for the Manchester side have contacted Ajax to enquire about the availability of Jurrien Timber.
There can be no surprises about the kind of players that United have targetted in the upcoming transfer window in the summer, given that attack and defence have been our main downfalls this term. We have neither been able to put away chances in the opposition box, nor been able to stop goals flowing into our own box.
37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 35-year-old Edinson Cavani are who we rely on to supply the goals up front, but while the former has been patchy in his form in 2022, the latter has barely featured this season due to recurring injury problems. A younger replacement therefore, is needed for the future.
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Despite roping in Raphael Varane last summer to bolster our defence, we have continued to look shaky and unstable against stronger opposition attackers. Club captain Harry Maguire has been woeful this season, while Varane has failed to feature for his new club in a regular run of games, being hampered by the odd injury niggle.
It is plain to see why centre-backs are high on United’s wishlist, and Torres and Timber may prove to be the reinforcements we need to solve our issues at the back. It remains to be seen whether the Red Devils are willing to splash the cash on these players, especially Nunez, given his massive transfer fee.
