Erik ten Hag has openly admitted that he hopes Cristiano Ronaldo stays at Manchester United beyond next week’s deadline.
The 37-year-old’s future has been the source of constant speculation ever since he made it clear that he wished to depart Old Trafford. The revelation rocked the Red Devils, who brought Ronaldo back to the club to much fanfare just 12 months ago.
But after his first season ended with United missing out on Champions League qualification, he requested he be allowed to leave should a suitable offer be lodged. That is still yet to transpire, with his list of potential suitors seemingly dwindling by the week.
Ten Hag, in the early weeks of the season at least, has shown there is life beyond Ronaldo, leaving him out of three of his four Premier League starting XIs. The only match he has started, saw United thrashed 4-0 by Brentford in one of their most humiliating ever defeats.
Since then, he has been relegated back to the bench with Ten Hag instantly vindicated thanks to wins over Liverpool and on Saturday, Southampton. In both of those matches Marcus Rashford has started as the central striker, with Ronaldo coming off the bench.
That has led to increased conjecture ahead of next Thursday’s transfer deadline, but Ten Hag insists he is still part of his plans at the club. “We plan with him. We stick to the plan. I hope he is here."
Ronaldo still has one year remaining on his deal, so United could theoretically force him to stay until next summer and when Ten Hag was asked if it was up to him, he added: “I hope so.”
Should Ronaldo leave next week, he leaves behind a dearth of potential replacements, with only Rashford and Anthony Martial potential candidates to lead the line. Nevertheless, Ten Hag, while hinting more players could arrive, suggested that a central striker wouldn’t be one.
"I think he [Rashford] was quite effective, especially the first 15 mins after half-time. He understood he has to be a target at times," said Ten Hag. "He was the one who creates the situations. He was involved in the situations after half time and he played an important role in our attacks in the first 15 mins after half-time.
"That is what I expected when there is a lot of pressure on the ball that there is a striker that we can play over and he did really well. We have Cristiano, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford so we are okay [for strikers].
“If a good player is available we will strike because we want to strengthen the squad. Always. We will be alert until the last second of the window."
