Jaap Stam backs Erik ten Hag to succeed at Man United… but only if the new manager is backed in the transfer market with Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong top of his shopping list
- Erik ten Hag is getting down to work as Manchester United’s new manager
- Dutch coach would like the club to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong
- Old Trafford legend Jaap Stam has backed his compatriot to do well at United
- But he cautioned that Ten Hag will need to be backed in the transfer market
- Stam also warned about the cultural differences between England and Holland
Jaap Stam has backed his Dutch compatriot Erik ten Hag to prosper at Manchester United – but only if he is fully supported in the transfer market.
The Old Trafford club have been in decline for almost a decade and Ten Hag will have his work cut out to restore them to former glories.
He has already identified a number of summer transfer targets – including the £69million-valued Barcelona and Holland midfielder Frenkie de Jong – with United’s hierarchy working hard to bring them in.
Erik ten Hag is getting down to work at Manchester United as he begins a massive rebuild job
Former United defender Jaap Stam believes that Ten Hag has every chance of succeeding
And former United defender Stam, who won the Treble under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999, has tipped Ten Hag for success.
He told The Guardian: ‘We all know what he can do and what he has done over in Holland with Ajax. Hopefully he can do the same now with United.
‘Obviously, there are certain things that will need to be there for him to help him, maybe in terms of different players and personnel. But I think he’s done a good job in Holland.’
Barcelona and Holland midfielder Frenkie de Jong is top of Ten Hag’s summer shopping list
As well as addressing problems in central midfield, United could also do with a new striker, central defender and right-back after a disastrous 2021-22 season in which they only finished sixth in the Premier League.
Stam, who played 127 games during his three-season United career, warned that Ten Hag will have to adjust to certain cultural differences between Dutch and English football.
He added: ‘In Holland, we always say that every player in every position needs to be able to play…