Erik ten Hag has set an early deadline for Manchester United to clinch striker deal
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United , has imposed a deadline for the club to sign a top striker this summer.
The need for a long-term solution in the striker position has been evident since Cristiano Ronaldo’s temporary stint in 2021. With his departure, the need for an elite goalscorer is even more pressing.
The current options like Wout Weghorst are only temporary solutions. Therefore, finding a striker to build the team around is a crucial priority for the club, and ESPN reports that ten Hag has set an early deadline for the deal to be finalized.
According to ESPN, Erik ten Hag is looking to secure a top-notch center forward before his team’s pre-season tour to the United States. Manchester United recently announced their participation in the tour, including a confirmed fixture against Wrexham.
It would be advantageous for Ten Hag to have the striker signed before the tour as it would enable him to assimilate the player into the team, both tactically and socially.
Previously, ESPN had reported that Manchester United might shift their attention away from pursuing Harry Kane if Tottenham delays the deal until the deadline day in August.
Manchester United aimed to finalize early deals during Erik ten Hag’s first summer in charge in 2022, but this objective was not achieved.
Out of the six players signed last summer, only one, Tyrell Malacia, joined the team in time for their pre-season tour in Thailand and Australia. The club’s prolonged focus on Frenkie de Jong without success caused a delay in the rest of the transfer business, resulting in a poor start to the season with two opening defeats.
Ten Hag is determined to prevent a recurrence of this situation. Last summer, he had only been at United for a few weeks before the tour, leaving little time for preparation. However, this time around, the Red Devils have had several months to plan and work together to coordinate a plan for the summer of 2023.
Transferring players at Manchester United is usually not a straightforward process, as normal circumstances are rare.
Erik ten Hag’s upcoming transfer window is expected to be more stable than his first, but there are new challenges in 2023 due to the ongoing takeover of the club.
The uncertainty around who the new owners will be could affect the club’s budget and strategy. Ideally, new owners would take over by May, but there is no guarantee that will happen.
If the takeover drags on until July or August, it could impact Ten Hag’s deadline for signing his top target before the tour. Ten Hag’s plan to prioritize signing his number one target in time for the tour is wise, but it remains to be seen whether it will actually happen.
Erik ten Hag has set an early deadline for Manchester United to clinch striker deal
