Man Utd transfer news: Man Utd are struggling to sign new stars ahead of next season

Big problems for Ten Hag  

Manchester United fans would be forgiven for already growing wary of how the summer transfer window is going for their club. While their cross-city rivals Manchester City have signed one of the most exciting players in the world in Erling Haaland and Liverpool have now completed their business for the off-season, the Old Trafford side are struggling to nail down a single transfer target. 

Indeed, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Man Utd are now set to miss out on yet another potential signing in Ajax full-back Jurrien Timber due to the fact that the player would rather spend another year in the Netherlands. A huge blow not only to Man Utd but also their new manager, Erik Ten Hag, who would have surely loved to have fixed his new team’s right-back problem with one of his former stars. 

Worryingly for Man Utd and their new manager, top-tier talents opting out of a move to the Red Devils seems to be something of a trend this summer. Prior to Timber’s apparent rejection of the move, Man Utd were left red faced when another transfer target in Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong brushed off rumours linking him with a move to the club. “Barcelona is just my dream club, even from a young age,” said the Netherlands international in an interview with ESPN. “I’ve never regretted my choice despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I’ve achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice.”

Add to that rumours of big-money moves for RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku, Ajax winger Antony or even former Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen all going cold and it seems as though Man Utd may truly struggle to bring players to the club this summer. So will Ten Hag manage to turn things around at Old Trafford before the new season starts? 

Big holes in multiple positions – Where Man Utd need to invest this summer 

Of course, the main frustration with this summer’s transfer window comes from the club’s utter desperation to fill a number of holes in Ten Hag’s team ahead of the new Premier League campaign. And a quick glance across Man Utd’s squad clearly shows where the troubled positions are. For example, while Ten Hag may be relatively happy with his options between the posts and at left-back, the club clearly need at least one new central defender that can step in if Harry Maguire doesn’t turn his form around and none of the club’s options at right-back are good enough. Which is exactly why Timber’s decision to reject a move to Old Trafford could prove hugely troublesome for the club. 

Man Utd have been heavily linked with a number of Europe’s best players

But will they actually sign any of them this summer? pic.twitter.com/WXupxHUlJP

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) June 18, 2022

Similarly, Man Utd are a mess in midfield. While Scott McTominay and Fred are decent players, the club desperately needs a No.6 that can orchestrate the midfield and pull the reins back on Bruno Fernandes when he goes wandering in the final third. No top team pushing for major honours can succeed without discipline in the middle of the pitch. Unfortunately, Ten Hag’s problems don’t end there. In attack the club have already lost three forwards in Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata and the ones left behind won’t be of much use either. Unless Jadon Sancho can show some of the form he had at Borussia Dortmund or Cristiano Ronaldo can turn back the clock, Man Utd will need to bring in some serious firepower like Nkunku or Antony if they are to outscore their opponents next season. 

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