Man Utd transfers: Ten Hag urged to bring in ‘fantastic’ £30m target as £167m trio are told to leave right now
Erik ten Hag taking Manchester United training
Former Manchester United assistant boss Rene Meulensteen has explained why the signing of Sofyan Amrabat will help take the club to the next level – but insists time is up for a struggling and costly-signed trio.
The United boss is on the brink of finalising the signing of his third new addition of the summer window in Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker is understood to have passed his medical with only registrations and legal documentation holding up the announcement. All being well, however, the signing of Hojlund, in an initial £51.8m deal, will be announced thuis weekend.
Joining Andre Onana and Mason Mount in their ranks, his arrival will take the club’s spending through the £150m barrier. However, Ten Hag and Co are far from finished with a deal for Amrabat also in the works.
United have already agreed personal terms with the Moroccan midfielder, though the deal has been held up as United wait to move some of their unwanted stars on.
To that end, a report on Friday claims the sales of Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay to West Ham are set to boost their coffers to the tune of £60m.
That should allow United the opportunity to push through the signing of Amrabat, with the Fiorentina man up for sale for a fee of around €30m – €35m.
And with Ten Hag looking to reunite with his former Utrecht charge, the swoop for Amrabat has been branded a smart piece of business by Meulensteen.
“He’s a good player. He had a fantastic World Cup,” Meulensteen told talkSPORT (03/08/2023, 10am).
“He brings something different to the team, which United needs.”
Man Utd told expensive trio need to leave
With Maguire and McTominay seemingly nearing exits, the news of Maguire’s departure, in particular, will likely be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s former No 2.
The England defender has fallen down the pecking order under Ten Hag, having cost an eye-watering £80m from Leicester just four summers ago.
Having also been stripped of the captaincy at Old Trafford, the writing looks to be on the wall for Maguire. And if he doesn’t leave, one former England star reckons he could make Ten Hag eat his words next season.
Nonetheless, Meulensteen reckons it is high time Maguire, along with other expensive signings, Donny van de Beek and Fred to all depart.
The trio cost a combined £167m, but Meulensteen says time is up for all three.
“They need to move on, I really do (think so),” Meuelensteen added.
“New faces gives new energy, new vibrancy to the team. And I think that’s what they need.”
United’s chances of offloading Fred, however, appeared to have stalled with a move to Galatasaray breaking down.
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