Erik ten Hag says 'many quality players' want to join Man Utd - a year on from targets having 'reservations' about club
/dnl.tntsports.co.uk/sd/img/placeholder/tnt_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 13/05/2023 at 09:58 GMT+1
Manchester United have become an attractive club that "many quality players" want to join this summer, says manager Erik ten Hag, who admits that targets had "reservations" about the project last year. United are expected to have another busy window after an encouraging debut season for Ten Hag. The Red Devils are closing in on a top-four finish, but must turn around their flagging form.
'Reset, reload, recharge' - Ten Hag grateful for full week to prepare for crucial Wolves game
Erik ten Hag says it will be easier to convince "quality" players to join Manchester United in the upcoming transfer window than it was last summer after his encouraging debut season as manager.
The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford at the end of a chaotic 2021/22 season where United finished sixth in the Premier League and had three different managers.
Ten Hag has restored an air of stability to the club, leading them to the League Cup trophy, the FA Cup final and within touching distance of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
Although there are off-field doubts about the club’s ownership situation as the bidding process continues, the former Ajax boss believes a simpler summer of negotiations lies ahead when he looks to strengthen the squad.
"I see a big difference in comparison with last year," said Ten Hag.
"There were a lot of reservations last year when I spoke with players and now many players see the project, what's going on, the dynamic and the ambition in this project, the quality especially.
“They are really keen to come, I've noticed that. It looks like there were a lot of reservations last year, a lot of doubts when we approached players. This year, many quality players really want to come.”
United face Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday needing to turn around their flagging form.
Back-to-back defeats to Brighton and West Ham have left Liverpool dreaming of a late-season leapfrog in the standings, with the Reds one point behind Ten Hag’s side in fifth, having played one more game.
With four matches remaining, there is little room for error, but Ten Hag delivered some bad news about the condition of top scorer Marcus Rashford.
“Raphael Varane is back, Marcus Rashford is doubtful," he said.
"He has a problem on his leg, an injury, so he is a big question mark.”
He added: "We are happy Varane is back. He has the experience, the know-how to win, and he will guide us."
David De Gea was at fault in the recent defeat to West Ham, making a decisive error in the 1-0 defeat, and the Spaniard’s future has been the cause of much speculation with his contract expiring soon.
"We can't ignore it but individual mistakes are part of football and there was in the Brighton game also a big individual mistake," Ten Hag said.
“But sometimes it's happening, it shouldn't happen, when you are in the right focus it will not happen. That is part of the reset of this week."
Share this article