Erik ten Hag may be forced to sign his fifth or even sixth-choice midfield target after a report revealed the reasons behind a quadruple Man Utd blow.
The Dutchman, 52, has been chosen as the man Manchester United believe can put them back on the right path. Ten Hag has an unenviable task with his first summer in charge set to be a hectic one.
The likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani will all leave as free agents. Nemanja Matic too will be allowed to walk and former boss Jose Mourinho was coy when asked about signing the Serbian for a third time.
Matic and Pogba’s exits will leave a void in central midfield. Impressive Nottingham Forest loanee James Garner could be retained, though a club the size of Man Utd cannot enter a season with only three midfield options including Fred and Scott McTominay.
As such, a blockbuster addition in the middle of the park is expected. And a whole host of eye-catching names have been linked.
However, according to the Daily Star, no fewer than four of Ten Hag’s top targets are now off the table.
The newspaper state Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips and Sergey Milinkovic-Savic all won’t be moving to Manchester this summer.
The reasons behind the quadruple blow were revealed, beginning with West Ham talisman Rice.
Rice wants what United can’t provide
News broke yesterday over an unprecedented eight-year contract extension Rice had been offered by West Ham. But despite the latest reports suggesting it will be rejected, the Star reckon he will remain with the Hammers for at least one more year.
His current deal expires in 2024 and the club have an option for a further 12 months. The 23-year-old reportedly has ‘no interest’ in moving to United while they’re not in the Champions League.
Secondly, Borussia Dortmund sensation Bellingham is reportedly on Ten Hag’s ‘wanted list’. However, the German club have apparently told United to ‘forget about’ a move this summer.
While…
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