Coach Erik ten Hag did not deny when asked about the possibility of Man Utd signing striker Neymar in the summer transfer window of 2023.
“When we have news, we will notify you,” Ten Hag said and smiled at the press conference on May 24 before the match against Chelsea, when asked about the possibility of recruiting Neymar.
Two days earlier, French newspaper L’Équipe reported that Man Utd was considering a plan to borrow Neymar from PSG, possibly with a buy-out clause. The English team is willing to pay part of the Brazilian striker’s salary. This comes from the lack of stability on the Man Utd attack. They are unlikely to sign a long-term contract with striker Wout Weghorst, while Anthony Martial is often injured, Marcus Rashford is not in stable form, and Jadon Sancho or Antony do not meet expectations.
According to British newspaper Sportmail, Man Utd will have a busy summer transfer window with at least 10 players able to leave the club. Among these are Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Anthony Elanga, Brandon Williams, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, Eric Bailly and Alex Telles.
When asked about Martial’s future – the striker was angry when he was substituted in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth over the weekend – coach Ten Hag said: “If you don’t play, you can’t score. With Martial on On the pitch, we play better and win. When in top shape and on the pitch, Martial will score.”
The Dutch military leader also warned potential new owners of Man Utd that investing in the club would be “pointless”, without a specific strategy. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim are currently two potential candidates to take over the role of Old Trafford owner from the Glazer family. “The Premier League has good players, coaches and money,” said Ten Hag. “That makes for a great tournament, but at the same time it’s tough and tough competition. You have to do the right things, and you have to spend your money smart. And you also need to have a strategy behind it. , because otherwise things won’t work”.
Despite the uncertainties at the top, Man Utd will bring in at least two stars when the transfer window opens. In addition to Neymar, according to ESPN, the “Red Devils” also want to buy a striker and a central midfielder, with Harry Kane and Mason Mount being the top targets. When asked about his transfer plans, Ten Hag said he only wants players with the right personality, excellence and dedication at the highest level. According to the 53-year-old coach, Man Utd is on the right track, can learn from this season, must reassess and draw the right conclusions to look forward to next season.
Man Utd is currently fourth with 69 points from 36 matches, while Liverpool has 66 points from 37 matches. The “Red Devils” only need one point against Chelsea to secure a spot in the top 4 with tickets to next season’s Champions League. Ten Hag said Rashford has returned to training and can start at Old Trafford today.
