Erik ten Hag looks set to bolster his squad next season with a number of top players being targeted. Manchester United have enjoyed a strong 2022/23 campaign under Erik ten Hag as they aim to clinch Champions League qualification.
Ten Hag will be looking to build on his first successful year at Old Trafford by bringing in reinforcements, and his hopes of drafting in quality players has been boosted by the fact that the Glazer family are ready to sell the club, with Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani reportedly tabling an improved offer close to £5bn to acquire Manchester United. The bid is described as improved as Sheikh Jassim remains eager to acquire 100 per cent ownership—instead of merely having stakes.
Should Sheikh Jassim win the race for Man United, it is possible he will hand Ten Hag a massive transfer kitty to spend in the summer transfer window. On that note, let’s take a look at how Man United could line up next term with rumoured top targets.
Goalkeeper
A big priority for Ten Hag is to address his goalkeeping situation, with David de Gea’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
De Gea may be leading the race for the Golden Glove for most clean sheets of the season but he hasn’t proven to be the ideal sweeper-keeper for Ten Hag’s system. However, Ten Hag wants De Gea to stay at the club and sign a new contract for significantly lower wages.
Even if De Gea decides to sign a new deal, he isn’t guaranteed to be United’s No.1 next season with Ten Hag on the lookout for a new goalkeeper. FC Porto’s Diogo Costa is being considered as an option by the Red Devils.
Diogo Costa, regarded as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers, has a €75m release clause in his contract. With De Gea’s future uncertain, Costa could be a fantastic acquisition for the Red Devils, given just how impressive he has been for Porto over the last two years.
Defence
Having lost his place in the starting XI this season, Harry Maguire is expected to leave United in the summer. If Maguire is sold, Ten Hag will dip into the transfer market for a new central defender with Victor Lindelof continuing his role as a strong squad player.
The Dutch manager is likely to stick with the preferred centre-back pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane next season. However, due to Varane’s recurrent injury problems, a player of Jurrien Timber’s quality and tactical versatility can turn out to be helpful.
Timber, who has been heavily linked with a move to United over the course of the past year, can be a good option to rotate with Varane. Due to his composure on the ball and passing ability, the Ajax man can play a vital role in building play from the back.
At right-back, Diogo Dalot has done well under Ten Hag and is touted as the long-term solution in that position at Old Trafford. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s time at the club seemed to be over but he has enjoyed a renaissance in form post the Qatar World Cup, providing tough competition for Dalot.
Yet, Ten Hag seems to be on the hunt for a new right-back and has made Bayer Leverkusen starlet Jeremie Frimpong his top target. Frimpong has performed very well for Bayer Leverkusen, registering eight goals and six assists in the Bundesliga this season, and Ten Hag believes the Dutchman would be a brilliant long-term addition to his squad.
Midfield
United are also set to look further afield for new signings and reports have also linked them with a swoop for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Milinkovic-Savic has been a top performer for Lazio over the years, and he would instantly improve United’s midfield unit. The trio of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen have worked so well in the middle of the park this season, and while it is possible Ten Hag will remain faithful to them, a player of Milinkovic-Savic’s pedigree and quality would give the United boss more flexibility in picking his midfield.
The Serbian international would give more energy and physicality than Eriksen to United’s midfield, with Fred and Scott McTominay likely to be squad players once again.
Attack
Ten Hag is interested in signing Tottenham star Harry Kane as he looks to add a world-class No.9 to his side. Kane is reportedly Ten Hag’s number one target, with Anthony Martial’s future uncertain and Wout Weghorst scoring no league goals in his loan spell at Old Trafford so far.
The Spurs star is moving into the final year of his contract, and while CEO Daniel Levy is said to be unwilling to part ways with the striker, fresh reports indicate that £80 million will be enough to lure Kane away from the north London club.
Should the Red Devils manage to secure Kane’s signing, Marcus Rashford will move to his preferred position on the left flank with Antony expected to produce more consistent performances from the right in his second season at the club.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
