Ten Hag has dream Man Utd line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured

01 February 2023 , 04:00

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After spending in excess of £200million back in the summer, the January transfer window was always likely to be a far less frenetic one for Erik ten Hag.

Given the Manchester United boss splashed out a sizeable chunk of the club's budget on the likes of Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, Ten Hag knew he would be restricted to wheeling and dealing in the winter window.

The Dutchman did manage to get some business done in the form of loan deals for Jack Butland and Wout Weghorst, with the latter being drafted in as an alternative attacking option following Cristiano Ronaldo's bitter exit.

News of a lengthy absence for Christian Eriksen was enough to tempt Manchester United back into the market, with a last-gasp swoop for Marcel Sabitzer confirmed shortly after Tuesday night's 11pm deadline.

There have also been departures; a handful of fledgling starlets have also headed out to the EFL on loan including Di'Shon Bernard, who moved to Portsmouth on deadline day.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

But although Ten Hag has added three bodies to his squad this month, the club's big business is primed to take place at the end of the 2022/23 campaign - and there are no guarantees that any of their January recruits have a long-term future at Old Trafford.

Regardless of how Weghorst fares over the next few months, Ten Hag is likely to intensify his efforts to acquire a new No.9.

England captain and Tottenham striker Harry Kane is a name who has been tentatively linked to United before, and with one year left on his current deal there is an expectation that he could finally leave Spurs if their season fizzles out over the coming months. And with the future of Antonio Conte unclear, everything could fall into place to tee up a blockbuster move.

Join the debate! Who would you like Man Utd to target in the summer? Let us know here.

Erik ten Hag has been busy in the transfer market since arriving at Old Trafford (PA)

Another long-term target who is also likely to crop back up on United's radar is Frenkie de Jong.

The seemingly never-ending saga between United and the Barcelona playmaker has grown dormant this month. But given that De Jong was Ten Hag's primary transfer target after excelling under his guidance at Ajax, it feels like the Old Trafford hierarchy will do everything in their power to finally bring him to Old Trafford.

A double pivot of Casemiro and De Jong would free up Bruno Fernandes to pull the strings further forward just as he has in recent months.

Harry Kane has been linked with a blockbuster summer move to Manchester United (Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I)

Ten Hag could opt to hand David de Gea a longer reprieve and a new contract after top goalkeeping target Yann Sommer was snapped up by Bayern Munich in January.

That feels more realistic than a renaissance for Harry Maguire, who has failed to muscle his way into United's first-team plans after his impressive showing at the World Cup. He could seek a move at the end of the season, but Ten Hag is unlikely to be too concerned at the prospect of losing his club captain due to the impressive understanding Raphael Varane and Martinez have struck up following the latter's big money move.

How Erik ten Hag would love United to look next season

Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot have established themselves as United's first-choice full-backs and would more than likely retain their spots if United can do business elsewhere.