Manchester United
Premier League • England
Ten Hag shatters dreams of two Man Utd stars with double exit confirmed
Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag will wave goodbye to two Man Utd stars who would both greatly prefer to remain with the club, per reports.
Man Utd still have the FA Cup final to contend before their campaign concludes. However, once the final whistle blows at Wembley on Saturday evening, the club’s full attention will turn to the summer transfer window.
Tying David de Gea down to a new deal must be accomplished before he becomes a free agent on June 30. If the Spaniard walks away, a new starting goalkeeper will be required.
Elsewhere, Napoli colossus Kim Min-jae is set to arrive if numerous reports in Italy are to be believed. A new centre-forward is the top priority, while a central midfielder is also on the agenda.
Man Utd signed a pair of players in January to fill those latter positions, with Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer arriving via the loan route.
Neither deal contained an option or obligation to buy, meaning any permanent moves would have to be negotiated from scratch at season’s end.
Both players were keen to join the Red Devils outright. Indeed, the Telegraph insisted Weghorst ‘wants to stay’ at Man Utd, while Sabitzer claimed he’s “found his place” at Old Trafford.
The Austrian told German outlet BILD in mid-April: “Of course my thoughts are on Man Utd, especially with the trust I get from Erik ten Hag. It’s very positive.
“I found my place here. Now I know the Premier League and can say there’s nothing better.”
However, according to the Daily Mail, neither player will get their wish.
Sabitzer, Weghorst fail to earn permanent deals
The newspaper reported Man Utd ‘will not’ sign Sabitzer or Weghorst to permanent deals, with the pair now set to return to parent clubs Bayern Munich and Burnley respectively.
It’s stated Ten Hag admires both players, though it’s suggested they’re not of the standard required to take United where Ten Hag wants them to go. Indeed, United will now pursue ‘upgrades’ in their positions on the pitch.
Sabitzer and Weghorst will therefore go back to square one, though are unlikely to remain with their parent clubs for long.
Weghorst is a poor fit for Burnley boss Vincent Kompany and moves either back to Besiktas in Turkey or PSV Eindhoven in his home country of the Netherlands have been mooted.
Sabitzer, meanwhile, is not understood to be in Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel’s plans moving forward.
BILD’s Christian Falk and German outlet Sport1 have suggested Sabitzer can be signed if Bayern receive offers in the €15m-€25m range this summer.
That modest sum is sure to tempt someone, though not Man Utd.