Incoming manager Erik ten Hag promises to work with United’s youthful players to help the team restore its fortunes.
Ten Hag, who will succeed interim manager Ralf Rangnick next month, has a history of working with young players. He is therefore anticipated to continue in that vein. And according to reports, the Dutchman has identified Jadon Sancho, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga, and Marcus Rashford as players he believes he can develop and who can help United win.
All four have had challenging seasons in their own ways. But their new coach’s mentality and support for young players appear to be encouraging.
Ten Hag’s development of Frenkie de Jong and Mattijis de Ligt, netted Ajax a total of £150 million. This allowed them to spend and remain competitive in European competition.
In addition to working with the existing crop, which includes Sancho and Elanga, the Dutchman is said to want United to be more active in the transfer market.
Ten Hag’s stint at Ajax was marked not only by his remarkable development of the club’s plethora of young talent but also by his astute market maneuvering. In Amsterdam, signings like Dusan Tadic and Sebastian Haller were positively greeted.
The club’s need for a new central midfielder is well established. As such, Paul Pogba is set to leave this summer after six challenging years in Manchester.
De Jong is said to be a target for the Red Devils. Apparently, Barcelona inclined to sell him due to their severe financial condition.
Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder N’golo Kante has been mentioned as a possible United target. Similarly, Declan Rice, who is thought to have turned down a new contract offer from West Ham, is expected to prick the ears of a number of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer. Ten Hag also revealed that his United contract contains no clause prohibiting him from attacking Ajax’s ranks.