Erik ten Hag had his request granted for a bespoke players’ lounge to be created at Old Trafford, after Manchester United refused similar proposals from the manager’s predecessors José Mourinho and Louis van Gaal.
The facility was signed off by the United chief operating officer, Collette Roche, after Ten Hag said it would help match-day preparation. Converting prime hospitality space in the stadium’s south stand will cost millions in lost revenue, some of which the club will recoup by no longer having to pay for the Lowry hotel as its pre-match base.
Ten Hag felt that the team assembling at the hotel in the city centre before driving to Old Trafford was time-consuming, and made it more difficult to monitor players’ diet and to build team spirit.
Old Trafford’s No 7 suite has at times been used for the pre-game meal but because it is a hospitality area, it had to be cleared about 90 minutes before kick-off.
Van Gaal, who managed United from 2014 to 2016, and his successor Mourinho each asked for a players’ lounge but were refused. Ten Hag got his way, it is understood, because of a renewed “football first” focus under the chief executive, Richard Arnold.
The lounge, which will be open for United’s first game of the season against Wolves on Monday, has taken about 12 months to get ready because of a reconfiguration of the area in which it is situated.
Roy Keane, meanwhile, has renewed his official link with United after 18 years by appearing in an advert for the new season’s third kit. The Irishman ended a glittering 12-year career at the club in 2005 after a row with Sir Alex Ferguson over an interview he gave to MUTV, the in‑house channel, in which teammates were reportedly criticised.
The advert features Keane at Old Trafford and ends with him joking about his “prawn sandwiches” jibe in 2000. Then, as United’s captain, he was scathing about a section of the home fans who he said had a “few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches” and who Keane believed were unfairly critical of the team.
West Ham remain hopeful of signing Harry Maguire from Manchester United but are less optimistic about their chances of reaching an agreement that would also see Scott McTominay move to the London Stadium.
Maguire and McTominay are key targets for David Moyes and West Ham lodged a joint £60m bid for the duo on Monday. The proposal was turned down by United, who want more money for both players, and the clubs remain in talks over a deal.
United are understood to value McTominay at £45m and West Ham could switch focus to other midfield targets. West Ham have agreed a £32m deal to sign Edson Alvarez from Ajax and could try to revive a move for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse before the window shuts. They have also considered Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.
West Ham have had a difficult window – business has been slow since the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal – and they want to back Moyes. The manager wants a centre-back and has had to make a strong case for Maguire. West Ham’s latest bid for the England centre-back is worth £30m and they are unwilling to go higher. United want around £35m for a player with two years left on his contract.
Maguire has fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag, who has stripped him of the captaincy, and needs to move to protect his England place. West Ham feel their offer for the 30-year-old is fair and hope to convince United to lower their demands. They are willing to move on to other targets if United refuse to budge. Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis are alternatives.
Yet Moyes is determined to bring in Maguire. The Scot sees him as a proven Premier League talent and believes he would be a good fit in his team. One issue is that Maguire received a considerable pay rise as a result of United qualifying for the Champions League. West Ham are working to find a solution around Maguire’s wages.
