Erik Ten Hag Still Wants New Players At Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has again declared his strong interest in adding new players to Manchester United’s squad in the forthcoming January transfer window.

The Premier League’s window officially opens in two days, and after Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent departure, the United manager wants to use it to make new signings for the second half of the season.

“I think we have a squad,” Ten Hag said in a press conference on Friday. “We have the players who are matching our criteria. But with all the games that are coming, it is tough competition in all the leagues. But if you want to also be in all the leagues and keep playing in all the leagues by winning games and cups as well.”

“So, you need players, you need numbers to cover. So, we need good players. Not only numbers, you need quality players to cover that and also that you need competition.”

“And you need also that [for] tactical choices. So, we are looking for the right player for our squad and has to match our sporting criteria but also our financial criteria.”

United were interested in the Dutch international striker Cody Gakpo before he joined Liverpool this week from PSV Eindhoven.

Ten Hag had been a firm admirer of Gakpo, but the club decided not to make bid for him as his best position is on the left side of attack where United are already well catered for with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho.

United’s focus is now on adding an orthodox central striker to their squad during January, which could be through a loan deal.

Ten Hag was impressed with the performances of Garnacho and Fred when they came off the bench in United’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford three days ago.

“We need impact from the bench,” Ten Hag said. “And I am happy once again it was a player who come from the bench, Fred, who is scoring the goal. And I think all the subs who came on did really well.”

“Also in the offensive department, you need players coming from the bench who will have an impact on the game, whether it is that you need a goal or a save when you are leading and that you can go for a counter attack or at least you keep the win on your side.”

Another player who impressed against Forest was Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is currently deputising at right-back for Ten Hag’s first choice Diogo Dalot.

“In the first-half of the season, he was either injured or ill, so you don’t have a role in the squad,” Ten Hag said. “So, I thought that the break was good for him. He returned, he was in the training camp in Spain, he could play some games in preparation for the restart.”

“Now he is playing games and he is doing really well so I am happy with his performance. But we need that competition in our squad. He has to play games in the team and then you can develop and then you can grow.”