23 February 2024 , 22:30
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Erik ten Hag has told Manchester United he must have the final say on transfers as the club wait to appoint Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants Ashworth to take charge of United’s recruitment policy as the INEOS billionaire owner begins his overhaul at Old Trafford. But Ten Hag has told United’s new minority shareholder that he must have the final word on players to make the team work.
“It’s control and I’ve had talks with them about it,” said the United boss. “They will not bring in players who the manager doesn’t want, because that will not work.
“We’ll work there together, with suggestions, bringing players in and discussing. Then it’s about picking the right players, it’s about co-operation and togetherness. That’s the way they want to work.”
Rasmus Hojlund’s muscle injury has robbed United of their in-form striker and the Denmark hitman had scored eight goals in his last eight appearances. Ten Hag will have to turn to Antony in Hojlund’s absence and the Brazilian, who cost £82million, has managed just one goal in 25 games this season.
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“He has to prove a point, but he will do that,” said Ten Hag, who brought Antony with him from Ajax. “He has a big potential, he hasn’t shown it lately, but I know what his talent is.
“It’s about proving his talent, it’s about him. He will probably get his opportunities, but that was always the idea, you have competition. Now he has to show himself on the training pitch, but also others. We have possibilities there, with Amad Diallo returning from an injury, he’s doing well in training.
“Omari Forson, he is doing well. We have options to fill in those positions. It’s not set Marcus Rashford has to play as a centre-forward.”
Ten Hag also defended his decision not to sign a second striker in the summer when he brought in Hojlund. The Dutchman also claims he could not act in January because United did not want to fall foul of the Premier League’s FFP rules.
“First of all, striker options are the most difficult to fill, especially at our level,” he said. “We had two strikers. I get it about Anthony Martial, but he has done for us last season great things.
“So he’s also on a high payment, in this club. So when you bring another one in, you strike him out. So there are all arguments not to do it. Then we have Marcus Rashford, who can also play very good in the front position. So we have actually three strikers in our squad.
“Then when I got the news about Anthony Martial at the start of January, I really tried to get another striker in. But because we are vulnerable there, FFP was the thing, we couldn’t do it.
"We worked out other options how to fill this in and how to deal in the moment Rasmus Hojlund wouldn’t be available. We have options in our squad.”
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