Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has already handed Cristiano Ronaldo a lifeline at the club by refuting the transfer advice of his predecessor Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick left the club in May after winning just 11 of his 31 games as interim boss of the club, even though it had been agreed that he would continue at the club in a consultancy role for two years. However, this did not come to pass as Ten Hag wanted a fresh start at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag never held a face-to-face meeting with Rangnick but did have a lengthy phone chat with the German prior to his exit just weeks later as his agreed longer-term role at United was binned by the club. The interim coach has now outlined his transfer advice to United, which was ignored by the club.
Rangnick has confirmed he handed United a shortlist of six players whom he would like to sign, of which five were attacking players and three were out-and-out strikers; including Erling Haaland, Alvaro Morata and Dusan Vlahovic.
That Rangnick was prioritising the striking position over any other showed that he believed Ronaldo needed to be replaced as the side's starting striker and that it was the area in the squad which required the most urgent attention.
"There was no such [transfer] dossier, and it was never wanted by the club," Rangnick told German outlet BILD. "But even without such a script, it was clear to everyone that there was a need in many areas.
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"That's why we were already discussing players like Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Those were names that were realistic. We also talked about Alvaro Morata, Luis Diaz, Dusan Vlahovic and, as I said, Haaland when they were still on the market. But the club decided at that time to rebuild the team under the new coach."
However, Ten Hag did not sign any of Rangnick's shortlist and nor was any new striker among his six additions to his United squad. Defenders Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez were joined by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, midfield duo Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, along with wide attacking star Antony.
The Dutchman had no shortage of funds at his disposal in his first transfer window at Old Trafford and he sanctioned six arrivals at the club, but no new striker was an indication that – even if he believed Ronaldo was an issue – it was far from the most pressing one facing him as he went on to restructure the squad.
Ten Hag was forced to axe the star for the trip to Chelsea last weekend after the Portuguese forward stormed down the tunnel at Old Trafford after Manchester United's dominant two-goal victory over Tottenham, where he refused to come on as a substitute. However, Ronaldo is now back in United’s ahead of Thursday’s clash against FC Sheriff in the Europa League.
