Ten Hag doubles down on pleas for Man United to sign an attacker

‘We need players!’: Erik ten Hag doubles down on his pleas for Man United to sign a forward in January… but insists targets ‘must match our criteria’ as they scour the loan market for new arrivals

  • Manchester United missed out on Cody Gakpo after Liverpool hijacked the move
  • Erik ten Hag’s side may be limited to loan deals in January after summer spree  
  • The Dutchman though acknowledges they need strength in depth this season
  • He has spoken of the importance of signing a striker in the January window 

Erik ten Hag has underlined the importance of signing a striker in the January transfer window after Manchester United missed out on Cody Gakpo.

The PSV Eindhoven star completed his £44million transfer to Liverpool this week after United’s rivals hijacked his move to Old Trafford.

Ten Hag may be limited to loan deals in January after spending a club record £220m in the summer, and wants to sign players who can improve his squad rather than stop-gaps.

Erik ten Hag has spoken of the importance of signing a striker during the January window

United were beaten to the signing of Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo by bitter rivals Liverpool

But the United boss also acknowledged that he needs strength in depth as well to cope with the demands of a heavy fixture schedule in the second half of the season due to the six-week break for the World Cup.

‘I think we have a squad, we have players who are matching our criteria,’ said Ten Hag. 

‘But all the games are coming. It’s a tough competition, in all the leagues. We want to keep playing in all the leagues and in the cups as well. So we need players and we need numbers to cover.

‘We need good players, not just the numbers. We need quality players to cover. And also we need competition and we need to know also that we can make different choices.

Ten Hag feels United need players to provide additional cover to the forwards they have

United go into January one forward short following the acrimonious exit of Cristiano Ronaldo

‘So we are looking for the right player for our squad, but it has to match our sporting criteria, definitely, but also some financial criteria.’

Manchester United have found themselves a forward short going into the January transfer window after the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo’s position at Old Trafford became untenable after he criticised the club, the Glazers, manager ten Hag and his team-mates during an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

His hopes to sign a striker could be hindered by the fact the Glazers are looking to sell the club

Man United had been considered favourites to sign Gakpo but missed out, after they were reduced to looking at loan deals owing to the Glazers looking to sell the club.

The 23-year-old even admitted he would think about a move to Old Trafford if an approach was made.

Liverpool emerged victorious in their chase for the 23-year-old after acting swiftly to secure the deal. 




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