Ten Hag outlines clear Man Utd priority in direct transfer demand

Stuart Telford

• 23 Apr 2023 08:42 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United have been linked with a host of players next summer, from striker Harry Kane to goalkeeper Diogo Costa, but Erik ten Hag could hardly be clearer about what his team needs.

United are a work in progress under Ten Hag. The Dutchman has already won the EFL Cup with his new side and steered them to third in the Premier League table, but more surgery is needed this summer.

Harry Maguire looks like one of the most likely to be axed, while many a United fan would now be glad to see David de Gea join the club captain in Old Trafford's exit lounge, but it is up front where things are worst for Ten Hag.

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What did Ten Hag say?

"We have to acknowledge that, especially in the frontline, we had problems during the whole season because we just didn't have the numbers there," he said. "If the squad is so strong that you have in every position double the same quality, then it's good.

"The frontline for instance. It hasn't often played the same, because of injuries and suspensions."

But even when Ten Hag has had his first-choice attackers available, most of them have failed to deliver.

READ: Man Utd have made transfer profit on FOUR players in 10 years

Marcus Rashford is the Red Devils' 27-goal top scorer in all competitions, but he has often played injured this season and only goes right up front for want of a better alternative.

Wout Weghorst has failed to score a Premier League goal since joining on loan from Burnley, via Besiktas, in January, and is reportedly now eyeing a return to Turkey.

It is understood that Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen are at the top of United's shopping list, but Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli are both likely to demand more than €100 million for their star strikers.

Benfica's Goncalo Ramos could be a cheaper alternative who ultimately proves to be Cristiano Ronaldo's successor for club and country, while Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund and Brighton's Evan Ferguson are also of interest, if more for the future.