Erik ten Hag has emerged as Manchester United’s selected candidate to guide the membership into the brand new technology and the Dutchman will have to waste no timing in tackling the urgent problems at Outdated Trafford.
Assets from Ajax and the Dutchman’s camp informed Sky Sports activities Information ultimate week talks over repayment and the best way to take care of a proper announcement had taken position, after he inspired in his interview.
Ralf Rangnick believes United can have a rebuild inside 18 months and with the membership as regards to finalising the appointment in their new supervisor, Sky Sports activities takes a take a look at one of the key troublesome areas he will have to rectify…
1. Does Cristiano Ronaldo nonetheless have a long term?
This would be the burning query on everybody’s lips on every occasion the Dutchman is showed as United’s new supervisor and it’ll be intriguing to look what he does in regard to Ronaldo.
The Portugal ahead may well be 37 now, however as he confirmed when scoring an elegant hat-trick in United’s fresh 3-2 win over Tottenham, he’s nonetheless the membership’s most efficient No 9.
Actually, with Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood all failing to hit the mark up entrance for differing causes this season, Ronaldo is in truth the membership’s simplest actual possibility in that place.
A wholesome go back of 18 targets and 3 assists in his 32 video games in all competitions to this point this marketing campaign somewhat obviously reveal that reality, with the veteran simply United’s most sensible scorer, whilst his minutes-per-goal ratio additionally dwarfs that of his team-mates.
But, as Dutch soccer journalist Marcel van der Kraan informed Sky Sports activities Information, Ten Hag has stipulated he desires “freedom along with his control of avid gamers” had been he to take the position, so he can reshape the aspect and its taste in his symbol, construction it round more youthful and hungrier avid gamers.
All of which might spell the top at Outdated Trafford for Ronaldo – who simplest signed a two-year deal to rejoin the membership ultimate August, with the choice of an additional 365 days – particularly if Ten Hag desires to get United enjoying extra just like the group within the blue part of town.
Richard Morgan
2. Is Declan Rice the solution to midfield conundrum?
There can have been a break up within the hierarchy over the deserves of appointing Ten Hag as a substitute of Mauricio Pochettino however one space of recruitment that has been unanimously agreed upon is upgrading the midfield.
It was once a conundrum beneath Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and period in-between boss Rangnick got here no nearer to fixing the imbalance however with Paul Pogba set to leave this summer time, that are supposed to a minimum of take away one component to a central axis that has lacked the vital equipment to show defence into assault.
Whilst Ten Hag is quickly potential given the modest sub-£2m repayment owed to Ajax, prising some of the membership’s long-term midfield objectives is changing into extra exorbitant with every passing day.
Declan Rice has been described by way of former United boss David Moyes as “England’s very best participant this season” with experiences West Ham will simplest settle for a bid of a minimum of £150m.
It was once anticipated United would face pageant from Chelsea, and whilst the continuing uncertainty surrounding their monetary plight may pave the best way for a transfer to Outdated Trafford, they are going to no longer have a transparent run on the coveted 23-year-old.
Donny van de Beek loved such a lot good fortune beneath Ten Hag in fact, and can go back with some degree to turn out within the Premier League if to not his former supervisor when his mortgage spell at Everton ends in the summertime.
However it’s Rice who may shape the heart beat of United’s aspect for the following decade and heralding Ten Hag’s reign with a report switch and marquee signing can be a significant sign of intent.
Ben Grounds
3. Construct a group round Sancho? What about Rashford?
When Manchester United after all signed Jadon Sancho ultimate summer time, the sight of him and Marcus Rashford dazzling on each wings was once a mouth-watering prospect. Hundreds of thousands of United lovers around the globe believed the membership had discovered two vast forwards are compatible to grace the Outdated Trafford pitch for the following decade.
Seven months later, despite the fact that, neither participant was once even decided on by way of Gareth Southgate for his newest 25-man England squad.
Rashford’s omission was once comprehensible, however Sancho’s got here as a wonder to many. Having began simply 4 Premier League suits prior to the sacking of former United supervisor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the 22-year-old has loved a noticeable go back to shape beneath period in-between boss Ralf Rangnick.
Sooner than the ultimate global spoil, Sancho had began six league video games in 5 weeks, scoring two times and contributing 3 assists in that point. He additionally performed the total 90 mins of ultimate weekend’s 1-1 draw with Leicester. After an underwhelming begin to his Outdated Trafford occupation, he has became an extraordinary vivid spark for United in what has been a disastrous season.
Fifty targets in 137 video games in 4 years at Borussia Dortmund, in addition to two times being named within the Bundesliga group of the 12 months, brought about United to spend £73m to protected his signature.
With incoming supervisor Ten Hag’s report of growing younger avid gamers and the truth he’s certainly one of Europe’s maximum revolutionary coaches, there’s no doubt Sancho stays an enormous a part of the membership’s long-term long term. It might no longer be a surprise to look him as the primary guy the Dutchman builds his group round.
As for Rashford, Ten Hag will have to make a decision whether or not to money in or rejuvenate the occupation of a participant who for sure nonetheless has world-class ability.
His season hit a brand new low when he was once named at the bench towards Leicester in spite of the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani. It was once described by way of Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville as a “actual killer and tells us Rangnick does not fancy him”.
A shoulder harm not on time the ahead’s begin to this season however he has struggled to accomplish in fresh months, scoring simply two times because the finish of October. Along with his present contract – which incorporates a one-year extension clause – expiring in 2023, experiences he would believe his long term on the membership proceed to flow into.
At 24 years outdated, Rashford is already an skilled participant for each membership and nation. Having accrued 298 appearances for United and 46 caps for England, scoring a complete of 105 targets within the procedure, his skill isn’t the issue.
He wishes a brand new supervisor with recent concepts, who’s there for the longer term and will rediscover the participant who burst onto the scene as a fearless 18-year-old in 2016. Ten Hag is greater than able to doing that.
Dan Sansom
4. How does Ten Hag regulate the dressing room?
Erik ten Hag has no longer even been introduced as Manchester United supervisor, but already there’s communicate this squad of underachievers are break up over whether or not he’s the proper guy to take price at Outdated Trafford.
A lot has been manufactured from the plain step up in scrutiny the Dutchman will face when he makes the transfer to Manchester, however his greatest problem might be managing the egos within the dressing room.
A loss of duty off and on the pitch has observed those avid gamers let down Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Ralf Rangnick. For see you later, the avid gamers had been given extra energy than the managers at United. That should exchange with Ten Hag.
Sky Sports activities pundit Roy Keane, a former United captain, mentioned in 2019 “those are the similar avid gamers that threw Mourinho beneath the bus, and they are going to just do the similar to Ole”. The query for Ten Hag: how does he keep away from that very same destiny?
There was communicate of introducing an assistant to Ten Hag’s backroom personnel that has the United ‘DNA’. Steve McClaren, former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson within the 1999 treble-winning season, and Robin van Persie had been spoken about amongst others.
It is an manner that each one of the ones to apply Ferguson have attempted to ill-effect. David Moyes had Phil Neville, Louis van Gaal had Ryan Giggs, Jose Mourinho had Michael Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had Mike Phelan, even Ralf Rangnick has Darren Fletcher.
Such an appointment would most probably assist Ten Hag become familiar with English soccer and probably enhance family members with the dressing room. However it feels as despite the fact that the loss of willingness to guide is a matter that runs deeper than certain feeling towards the chief. In spite of everything, for massive portions of Solskjaer’s reign, the advice was once he had a contented squad.
What Ten Hag must have regulate of the dressing room is the total backing of the board and the homeowners – simply as Pep Guardiola has at Manchester Town and Jurgen Klopp has at Liverpool. Whether or not the ones in price at this second may give that could be a other query.
First step to proving it? Again Ten Hag absolutely within the switch marketplace. Promote the avid gamers he does no longer need and purchase the avid gamers he does. This squad is short of actual surgical operation to compete with Town and Liverpool – in relation to management, mentality and high quality.
As Keane mentioned again in 2019, “there is too many bluffers at this membership to get United again to the very most sensible”.
Zinny Boswell
Rooney unique: I might make a selection Pochettino over Ten Hag
Wayne Rooney had tipped Pochettino to change into the following Manchester United supervisor, believing his Premier League revel in and historical past of blooding early life positioned him forward of Ten Hag.
“I believe Pochettino has performed it within the Premier League,” Rooney mentioned. “He is aware of the Premier League and at Tottenham he introduced numerous avid gamers via. He did it at Southampton as neatly.
“If I am opting for from some of the two, that is who I might make a selection. He would want to be given time to put his blueprint at the membership and at the group. If you happen to give him time, I believe he’d do neatly.”
Apply Manchester United with Sky Sports activities
Apply each and every Guy Utd recreation within the Premier League this season with our are living blogs at the Sky Sports activities web site and app, and watch fit highlights without spending a dime in a while after full-time.
Need the Guy Utd newest? Bookmark our Guy Utd information web page, take a look at Guy Utd’s fixtures and Guy Utd’s newest effects, watch Guy Utd targets and video, stay observe of the Premier League desk and notice which Guy Utd video games are bobbing up live to tell the tale Sky Sports activities.
Get all this and extra – together with notifications despatched instantly on your telephone – by way of downloading the Sky Sports activities Rankings app and environment Guy Utd as your favorite group.
Listen the most efficient Premier League response and knowledgeable research with the Very important Soccer and Gary Neville podcasts, stay up-to-date with our devoted Switch Centre, apply the Sky Sports activities social accounts on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and learn the way to get Sky Sports activities.