Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Gary Neville says Man Utd transfer situation is ‘worrying’ as Erik ten Hag awaits first signing

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United manager, arrives at Selhurst Park

Gary Neville says “it’s worrying” that Manchester United are yet to get any transfer business conducted in the summer window.

New United boss Erik ten Hag knows only too well he has a big task on his hands getting United back to where they once were. The Dutchman cut short his Ajax stay and refused to go on their end of season trip. Instead he pitched up in London and watched United’s final-day match at Crystal Palace to get a head start at Old Trafford.

“It feels like a challenge to put the club back on track of winning. The options are there, including financially,” he said in an interview with Voetbal International last month.

“I’ve also got a good feeling about the people who are there, and that we can take a step in the direction,” he added, via ESPN.

But Ten Hag is yet to add to his squad despite seeing the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani all move on.

And to make matters worse, Manchester United’s deadly rivals Liverpool have already spent, what could be £85m, on striker Darwin Nunez.

Neighbours Manchester City have also paid £51m for striker Erling Haaland. Haaland was a player that was courted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Norwegian could not get his countryman to Old Trafford. Instead the striker signed for Borussia Dortmund in December 2019.

United have been linked with a number of players and they are understood to have irons in the fire.

Irons in the fire

Ajax duo Jurrien Timber and Antony are on Ten Hag’s radar. And they are reportedly considering a move for Porto’s Fabio Vieira and are understood to have lodged a contract offer to Christian Eriksen.

Frenkie de Jong is also wanted by Ten Hag, but the asking price may well be beyond the Red Devils.

Despite a number of deals bubbling away, Neville is concerned.

“I know (sic) early in the window but it’s worrying that United are struggling to get business done. The others seem set and ready yet United can’t get moving. ETH (sic) needs his group together asap to mould them. Bringing them in late will only make it harder for him!,” tweeted Neville.

It is still only early in the summer window with another 11 weeks to go. The Premier League window will slam shut at 11pm on 1 September 2022.

It might well be too early to get concerned by United;s lack of business although the club did hold an interest in Nunez.

It’s understood United were unwilling to pay the £85m that Liverpool have committed to and instead withdrew from the running to sign the Benfica man.

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