Manchester United’s dismal season could affect their ability to attract players to Erik ten Hag’s planned overhaul this summer.
Ten Hag is readying himself to leave Ajax and take over from Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season after signing a three-year contract with the option of a further year at United. The Dutchman will be backed in the transfer market, with United in desperate need of fresh blood following a dreadful campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Rangnick.
With Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani among those out of contract and doubts hanging over many other players, Ten Hag will need to make use of the summer transfer window, for which he has been given a £100million budget by United. Although he is still focused on concluding Ajax’s season by winning the Eredivisie, the 52-year-old has already begun considering transfers for the 2022/23 campaign.
As Mirror Football exclusively reported, Ten Hag wanted to bring in Noussair Mazraoui with him from Ajax to Old Trafford this summer. The 24-year-old right-back is deemed the perfect replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but despite playing under Ten Hag for the past five years, Mazraoui is not keen on following him to United.
Mazraoui, who is out of contract with Ajax on July 1, has been courted by Bayern Munich, who are able to offer him Champions League football and the chance to compete for the Bundesliga title. United are understood to have offered a more lucrative financial package and a starting berth ahead of Wan-Bissaka, but to no avail.
The transfer snub shows just how far United have fallen from grace – and the size of Ten Hag’s rebuilding job. United are currently sixth in the Premier League, five points behind Arsenal in fourth, despite having played two games more than the Gunners, and are three games away from finishing a fifth successive season without any silverware.
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As well as a right-back, Ten Hag would like to recruit a left-back to challenge Luke Shaw for a place in the starting XI. Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia, 22, has been identified as a transfer target due to his youth, tenacity in the tackle and pace. Malacia joined Feyenoord and is an academy graduate and is thought to be available for around £20m.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag would also like to bring Ajax duo Jurrien Timber and Antony with him to Old Trafford. Timber, 20, has caught the eye in the centre of the Amsterdam side’s defence this season, while Antony has 12 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances this season from the right wing.
The need for new recruits was reinforced by what Ten Hag will have seen at Old Trafford on Thursday in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, in which United were completely outplayed. Rangnick will take charge of his final home game against Brentford on Monday before concluding his interim spell with away games against Brighton and Crystal Palace and then heading off to take charge of Austria.
