Ten Hag makes decisive call on Man Utd target that McLaren couldn't afford
Erik ten Hag will not be pursuing a deal for free agent Anwar El Ghazi, despite speculation linking the winger with Manchester United.
El Ghazi, 28, linked up with PSV Eindhoven after leaving Aston Villa at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, however, his contract with the Eredivisie outfit was terminated by mutual consent earlier this month.
It was claimed earlier this week that El Ghazi had been touted as a potential signing given United are currently light on right-wing options, with Jadon Sancho and Antony both set to be unavailable for the foreseeable future. It has now been confirmed, though, that El Ghazi is not currently an active target for the Red Devils.
The Athletic have outlined that El Ghazi was proposed as a potential solution to United's wing issues by his agents, but Ten Hag is happy with his current options, with Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri both capable of playing such a role.
Pellistri, 21, was the subject of strong loan interest in the summer transfer window and was seemingly close to joining Sheffield United before the move was blocked. The Uruguay international was retained with a view to featuring more prominently.
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While El Ghazi is not heading to Old Trafford, he was, intriguingly, previously a transfer target for Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren.
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Free agent Anwar El Ghazi will not be joining Manchester United (Raymond Smit/DeFodi Images)McClaren, 62, was an admirer of El Ghazi during his time as Newcastle manager and made the Dutchman a top target ahead of the January transfer window back in 2015, per The Telegraph.
Ultimately, though, Newcastle were priced out of a deal for El Ghazi, who was on the books at Ajax at the time. He stayed in Amsterdam for 18 months after the Magpies' interest failed to translate into a switch before Lille struck a deal for his services.
Pellistri has started just one game for Manchester United since joining the club from Penarol back in 2020. He was urged to quit the club prior to Ten Hag's arrival last summer but has stayed to fight for a first-place.
Garnacho, 19, has made a big impression since breaking into the first-team fold but usually operates on the left-hand side. The highly-rated teenager was rewarded with a new five-year contract back in April after registering three goals and two assists in 19 Premier League appearances last term.
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