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Jan 25, 2024

Erik ten Hag hits stumbling block as Man Utd fail to achieve transfer target

The Manchester United manager may have been hoping for more signings this summer but until the Red Devils can shift more of their fringe players, more arrivals are unlikely It is shaping up to be a

The Manchester United manager may have been hoping for more signings this summer but until the Red Devils can shift more of their fringe players, more arrivals are unlikely

It is shaping up to be a particularly interesting last few days of the summer transfer window for Manchester United.

Erik ten Hag's side spent big at the beginning of the window, with more thn £150million forked out on Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund. However, the general consensus among fans and pundits like is that further additions are required if the Red Devils are to launch any sort of title tilt this term.

With that being said, getting more bodies through the Old Trafford door before Friday's deadline could prove especially difficult for one standout reason. Lack of outgoings. United simply have not generated as much funds in terms of sales as those at the top of the club hierarchy expected they would going into the window.

As a result, mixed in with their splurge at the start of the summer, United are operating within strict financial constraints due to new Financial Sustainability rules from UEFA. A number of notable figures within the current crop of Red Devils stars seemed destined to leave earlier in the window.

Harry Maguire lost his place as a starter some time ago and when he lost his role as club captain as well, the writing seemed on the wall. And yet, the England international now looks likely to stay at the club beyond this summer after a deal to West Ham fell through.

The Hammers had submitted a £30million offer to secure Maguire's signature which United swiftly agreed. The complications arose when the time came to agree personal terms, with Maguire opting to snub interest from David Moyes' men.

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Scott McTominay has been the subject of interest from West Ham and Everton, but neither have made a real push to sign the Scotsman. Donny van de Beek remains on the fringes of the first-team fold at United, failing to get much of a look in while also failing to attract much concrete interest elsewhere.

Amid all the financial doom and gloom, United have been offered some respite by the fact that back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson is on the verge of a £15m move to Crystal Palace that could rise to £20m if add-ons are activated.

Anthony Martial could also still be an asset for United in a selling sense, with three different clubs interested in securing the Frenchman's services. With that being said, his exit would leave the club light in an attacking sense, but if Ten Hag wants to land the likes of Marc Cucurella and Sofyan Amrabat as reports suggest, he may have to cash in on Martial as soon as possible.

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