- 12 hours ago
Man Utd’s Ten Hag replacement makes January signing demand
Robin Bairner
- 9 Oct 2024 07:38 BST
- 3 min read
Thomas Tuchel remains a leading candidate to take over at Manchester United from Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman on the brink of the sack following the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Man Utd drew with Porto and Aston Villa prior to the international break, sparking a frenzy of media interest in the future of Ten Hag.
While Gareth Southgate is viewed by INEOS as a leading contender to replace the former Ajax boss, Tuchel appears a more viable candidate, having led a series of major clubs in his career, including Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich.
The German was reportedly close to taking the manager’s job in the summer, and Fichajes says that he has already told the Man Utd board one “key” condition on signing a contract with the Old Trafford club.
Current ETV
Ronald Araújo
D (C)
Ronald Araújo
D (C)
Barcelona
ETV Range
€34.8M - €58M
Tuchel has told United that he wants a central defensive reinforcement, and specifically Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo.
Ten Hag already invested in this area of the side during the summer with the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern, but against Aston Villa started with veteran Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire in place of the Dutchman and Lisandro Martinez.
The Spanish report claims that Tuchel is not prepared to wait until the summer to make a swoop for Araujo but wants the deal completed during the January transfer window.
Indeed, it is even claimed he has already held talks with the player.
Barcelona prepared to sell Araujo
Barcelona are willing to sell a player that former head coach Xavi once described as the best centre-back in the world.
The Catalan side, who continue to experience financial difficulties ahead of a signing a massive contract with Nike that is expected to go some way to relieving their problems, are ready to demand a price of €80 million for Araujo.
This is some way above Araujo’s €46.4m Estimated Transfer Value (ETV), which has held firm since the start of the season, despite the 25-year-old having been unable to play due to a major hamstring injury. He is expected to return to action within a few weeks.
