Erik ten Hag has opened up about the signings he wants to make to strengthen Manchester United before the transfer window closes.
United have already signed left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, but ten Hag wants to recruit four more players to reshape his squad before the September 1 deadline. A deal for free agent Christian Eriksen is close, while United are trying to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong and Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, ten Hag's former player.
Ten Hag, speaking in Bangkok, said: “We know what we want, we not only want new players, we want the right new players. “We have a good squad, there's huge potential, so only when we find player that can make an improvement in our squad, we will do so.
“In my first press conference I said already, definitely we are searching players in midfield, we have a need and also an offence, and we are still looking for players. We want to add the right players. We have a really good squad, we are working to develop our way of playing and the opportunity is there and we will strike.
“I never talk about players who are not under contract of Manchester United, players from different clubs, so I cannot tell you anything about this issue. It's going to be a long season, but a season that is quite unusual due to the World Cup, so you need to be prepared for this and need more players than in a normal season.”
Ten Hag said he is looking forward to seeing strikers Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in action, both of whom have a point to prove after difficult times last season. We have not played one game, so we have to find out,” said ten Hag.
“We work for two weeks, they are fitting really good together and we have to find out what is the best. What I know and see is they have an impact on the opponent and can hurt opponents.”
Scott McTominay says United’s players have already bought into ten Hag’s philosophy. Ten Hag has been working with United’s players for the past two weeks, putting them through intense training sessions and telling them the style he wants to play.
The former Ajax boss is hands-on in training, often stopping sessions to explain a particular detail or pattern of play, with McTominay revealing United’s players have been receptive to his methods and management style.
“He's got an idea of the way he wants to play, and he executes it really, really well in terms of getting across to the players,” said McTominay. "It’s the same with [assistant coach] Mitchell [van der Gaag]. The philosophy and the ideas of the style of play for us [are] clear to see.
“It's up to us as players now to really take the message on board and push with everything we’ve got, all year. As the manager reiterated, we’re here to work hard. We’re not here to go and sightsee and see all of Thailand. It's time to work and it's really time to focus for sure.”
