After last season’s disastrous sixth-place finish, it was clear that changes needed to be made at Manchester United, and Erik ten Hag was chosen as the manager to make them. Yet they have so far been sluggish in the transfer market, signing just three players.
With Barcelona ’s Frenkie de Jong United's main target, Ten Hag’s plan to upgrade the midfield may need some changing. The latest negotiations revolve around Juventus ’ Adrien Rabiot, whose agent - and mother - is driving a hard bargain. United’s midfield woes have dominated their transfer window, but the other area of contention is the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to rabid applause last year, but the team’s calamitous season and inability to qualify for the Champions League has left Ronaldo wanting out. The Portuguese star has been particularly vocal about his wishes, but Ten Hag seems set on keeping Ronaldo in his squad. And he seems to be getting his way, with no team seemingly willing to take the forward off United's hands.
