Incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has identified Jurrien Timber and Darwin Nunez as ‘priority’ signings this summer, as he looks to rebuild the Manchester Club.
The Red Devils finished a disappointing sixth in the Premier League, 11 points behind fifth-placed Arsenal, and saw their title charge fade out into a sad settlement for Europa League football come the end of the season.
And, speaking ahead of their 4-0 loss at the hands of Brighton, interim boss Ralf Rangnick revealed that though he had not spoken to Ten Hag, he felt that the club needed ‘6 to 8’ new players in the first team.
🗣 “We need a number of new players.”
Ralf Rangnick is asked to explain how he will advise Erik ten Hag on #MUFC‘s squad pic.twitter.com/hZwQmozdfl
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 7, 2022
At least one of these, he claimed, needed to be a striker, telling the media that ‘Cristiano is not a central striker or does not want to play in that position.’
‘It’s obvious that the club needs, I would say, at least, two new strikers who just give this team more quality and more options. I wouldn’t even call it wingers’
‘Two strikers and modern strikers, that do not necessarily have to be wingers’.
Oft-linked Benfica man Darwin Nunez would certainly fit that bill, while Ajax defender Jurrien Timber was a key part of ten Hag’s title-winning side this season.
And, as per the Mirror, it is this pair that the club are chasing, in a pair of deals that could set them back around £115m.
Where else are they looking to strengthen?
According to the same report, there are plenty of other additions looking to be made. They claim that ‘Ten Hag is also targeting two new full-backs, a midfielder and another forward’.
However, these are secondary concerns, and it is thought that Ten Hag ‘understands that his wishes hinge on him being able to shift unwanted players out of the bloated squad he has inherited to raise cash.’
With plenty of work to be done ahead of the new season, United will be hoping to get the ball rolling in the coming days.
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