Man Utd owners eager to do business, says Ten Hag

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the club’s new leadership team is “eager” to do transfer business.

Ten Hag was speaking after United lost 3-0 to Liverpool in the final game of their three-match tour of the United States.

Centre-back Harry Maguire missed the game as an injury precaution and Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans had to be substituted at half-time due to illness.

With new £52m signing Leny Yoro out for three months With a foot injury and striker Rasmus Hojlund sidelined until mid-September with a hamstring problem, there will be more focus on United’s transfer business ahead of the opening game of the Premier League season against Fulham in Old Trafford, on August 16th.

United have been trying to negotiate a deal with Bayern Munich for Dutch international Matthijs de Ligt and are also looking to sign Moroccan winger Noussair Mazraoui, a move that could pave the way for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to join West Ham.

Ten Hag said he knows director of football Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox and new chief executive Omar Berrada are working hard with the new co-owners, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos, to get deals done.

“It’s always difficult to say,” said Ten Hag, when asked if he expects to make changes to his squad in the next two weeks. “We wait. We’re always looking and this new leadership team is really eager to do business and close deals. They’re into it.

“But we have to wait if the moment comes and if the opportunities arise.”

With Hojlund permanently out and Bruno Fernandes and new signing Joshua Zirkzee not expected to start training with the main group until next week after their respective European Championship campaigns, Ten Hag tested Jadon Sancho at striker in United’s final game before the Community Shield clash with Manchester City.

Ten Hag admitted that using Sancho in that role at Wembley is more appealing than playing Marcus Rashford there.

“If Jadon wasn’t an option, we wouldn’t have played him there,” Ten Hag said.

“Marcus has done it before and it’s definitely an option, but I think he’s more productive on the left when he comes in.”