Erik ten Hag – CaughtOffside

Erik ten Hag names the 23/24 Man Utd flop set to become ‘very important’ once again

CJ — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:53:57 +0000

Erik ten Hag believes Casemiro is ready to once again become a ‘very important’ player to Manchester United.

The 75-time Brazil international arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022 following a glittering spell at Real Madrid.

Since then, Casemiro has played 84 times for Man Utd, scoring 12 goals and winning FA Cup and EFL Cup titles.

However, the midfielder suffered a serious dip in form last season and looked especially vulnerable when asked to cover at centre-back amid a defensive injury crisis at United.

Casemiro was linked with a move away from Man Utd this summer, with Saudi side Al-Ittihad mentioned as one potential suitor before interest seemingly cooled.

The 32-year-old looks set to stay another year with the Red Devils and after a productive pre-season, played the full 90 minutes in their Community Shield clash with Manchester City on Saturday.

Casemiro impressed with a match-high five tackles and 10 duels won, while he also created two chances, played seven passes into the opposition’s final third and made eight recoveries.

The veteran midfielder also dispatched his penalty as United eventually lost 7-6 from the spot at Wembley.

Casemiro #18 of Manchester United looks on in the second half during their pre-season friendly match against Liverpool at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 03, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Speaking after the match, Man Utd boss Ten Hag sang the praises of Casemiro, who he believes will play a key role in his squad during the upcoming campaign.

“He has a pre-season so he is very fit in this moment,” Ten Hag said (via the Manchester United official website).

“I think, as a team, we work good together and I think that makes it for Case very easy. Then he can bring his skills in and then you can see his importance for the game and for our team.”

In a later radio interview, Ten Hag added: “He is a big leader for us and very important for the team.

“Attacking, defending, we are together.”

Man Utd kick off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign at home to Fulham on Friday evening.

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Man United schedule two medicals for tomorrow as transfer targets say goodbyes to teammates

Mark Brus — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:33:15 +0000

Manchester United have reportedly got Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui set to arrive for medicals tomorrow as their transfers edge closer to completion.

According to Florian Plettenberg on X, formerly Twitter, the two Bayern Munich players have already said their goodbyes to their teammates at the Allianz Arena.

See below for the latest details from Plettenberg, whose latest update shows just how advanced these deals are, with Man Utd fans surely now able to look forward to an official announcement on these two new arrivals very soon…

?? Understand that Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazroaui have already said their goodbyes to the team of FC Bayern ??

If everything goes well, the medical checks for both are scheduled to take place on Monday. #MUFC

Both players will sign a contract until 2029 + 1. Bayern… pic.twitter.com/URysjTkyVy

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 11, 2024

United fans will surely be delighted with this double transfer raid on Bayern for two proven defenders who can add quality and experience to Erik ten Hag’s first-team.

They are also two players Ten Hag knows well as he managed them both at Ajax, and it will be intriguing to see if he can get them back to their best at Old Trafford after neither quite showed their best form at Bayern.

Fabrizio Romano hints at when Man United could announce €70m duo

Darren Looney — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 06:16:06 +0000

Man United are closing in on the signings of Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as Erik ten Hag is keen to reunite with his former players.

The Dutch coach worked with the pair at Ajax and with Bayern open to selling the two players, the Man United boss has been keen all summer to bring them to Old Trafford to strengthen his backline.

The Premier League club have agreed a fee for De Ligt worth an initial €45m plus €5m in add-ons, while a guaranteed €15m plus €5m in add-ons has been settled on for Mazraoui.

Both defenders have signed five-year deals at Man United plus an option of an extra season and are expected to undergo their medical tests on Monday, while also completing all the formal steps.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Monday is going to be “Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui day” at Old Trafford and it could be when both players are officially announced as new members of Ten Hag’s squad.

Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt is close to joining Man United

Is Erik ten Hag recreating another Ajax at Man United?

It is hard to gauge whether De Ligt and Mazraoui will be a success at Man United but it is never a good sign when a club as big as Bayern Munich are willing to let the players go pretty easily.

Ten Hag seems eager to work with players he trusts and is looking to add the duo to the former Ajax stars already at Old Trafford. Andre Onana joined the Manchester club last summer, while Lisandro Martinez and Antony followed their Dutch coach to Manchester in 2022.

Domino effect to begin with Victor Lindelof at Man United

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 07:12:00 +0000

Manchester United’s Swedish defender, Victor Lindelof, is attracting serious interest from several clubs in Saudi Arabia and Italy.

The Saudi Pro League are continuing their efforts to sign top European players and have had Lindelof on their radar for a while now.

Additionally, CaughtOffside sources understand that a handful of Italian clubs are keen to strengthen their defence by bringing the Swedish international into their squads.

Victor Lindelof set to depart Man United

United are asking for a transfer fee between £6m/£9m for the player, and it’s believed that Lindelof is looking for a new challenge.

If the transfer goes through shortly, it’s expected to spark a domino effect in terms of transfers at the club.

Current Bayern Munich players, centre-back, Matthijs de Ligt, and right-back, Noussair Mazraoui, will arrive.

Matthijs De Ligt is keen on a move to Man United and the deal could be completed once Victor Lindelof moves on.

Indeed, as significant progress has already been made in negotiations between the two clubs, the transfers are likely to be completed soon.

The additions of de Ligt and Mazraoui will bolster United’s defensive options and arguably enhance the team’s competitive edge.

CaughtOffside sources further understand that a deal for Aaron Wan-Bissaka is close to being completed with West Ham United.

United will then takes steps to strengthen their midfield, with Burnley’s Norwegian ace, Sander Berge, expected to move to Old Trafford.

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Initial talks have already begun, and it is reported that Berge is keen to make the move.

The Red Devils have allocated a budget of £23m for Berge but the Clarets are demanding closer to £30m, with CaughtOffside sources understanding that the two clubs could meet somewhere in the middle.

Additionally, United have offered Berge an attractive contract worth £100,000 per week, and it’s thought that this transfer could be a crucial step in United’s quest to replace Casemiro in defensive midfield, thus showing the Brazilian that he may no longer be a first choice and therefore may reconsider a move to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere.

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Man United in direct talks for important transfer of highly-rated England international

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 04:56:41 +0000

This summer’s transfer window has been a hugely one for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Erik ten Hag and Man United.

It was, in practice, the first where the INEOS owner could really set his stall out as to what kind of investment he was willing to make in terms of player purchases.

Thus far, the club have landed the brilliant Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee for ten Hag, with Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui expected to follow before the deadline.

There may well be other deals in the pipeline though even if it remains at just four, they are all players which can improve United in various areas of the team.

Outgoings this summer are just as important too, particularly when it relates to players that don’t appear to have the club’s best interests at heart.

Man United in talks with PSG over Sancho

Jadon Sancho has seemingly returned to the club with his tail between his legs, and to his credit it also looks as if ten Hag has appeared to bury the hatchet with a player who significantly undermined his authority last season.

According to Football Transfers, Paris Saint Germain have been in direct contact with the Red Devils regarding a potential move for the England ace, albeit there are question marks over whether Luis Enrique would tolerate a player with the lack of application that Sancho appears to possess at times.

After ridding themselves of Mason Greenwood, a transfer out of another potential trouble maker would almost certainly make life easier for ten Hag.

Man United appear close to agreeing a deal for Jadon Sancho.

The associated dressing room equilibrium that would arguably follow a transfer for Sancho is also a positive aspect that the club need to consider.

With three weeks left until the window closes, there’s plenty of time for the deal to get over the line.

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‘Injury’ to super defender hints that he is close to joining West Ham

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 11:02:55 +0000

It’s all go for West Ham at the moment.

No sooner had technical director, Tim Steidten, secured the brilliant captures of Argentine World Cup winner, Guido Rodriguez, and German hit-man, Niclas Fullkrug, than he was on a plane to Nice to hijack Juventus’ bid for Jean-Clair Todibo.

The Hammers have been super busy in this summer’s transfer window and it would appear that their business isn’t done yet.

Long time admirers of Man United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, news of an ‘injury’ to him has got the conspiracy theorists working overtime.

Manchester Evening News detailed that the right-back wasn’t spotted at training, but offered no further updates.

Given that the Red Devils need to get him off the books in order to bring in Noussair Mazraoui, the injury certainly seems to have come at a most convenient time.

By not playing over the next week or two, a medical with the Hammers could be forthcoming, followed by signing on the dotted line.

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Community Shield isn’t about Man United vs Man City rivalry; true meaning needs to be promoted again says Collymore

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:54:14 +0000

Saturday afternoon sees the latest Man United vs Man City match up in the FA Community Shield, the traditional curtain raiser to the new season.

It’s a last opportunity for managers to take a reasonably good look at their starting XIs and see if there are still any last-minute tweaks to be made before the big kick-off.

The reality is that all it is, is nothing more or less than a pre-season friendly for whom the profits go to charity, and that meaning has been lost according to Stan Collymore.

Community Shield has lost its meaning

“This weekend sees the return of the Community Shield, a traditional pre-season friendly that I’m a big fan of,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I do think that it absolutely shouldn’t be counted as a trophy, however.

“I think we need to tell the likes of Pep Guardiola that this isn’t something that he can count as one of his trophy wins. It’s not about Pep vs Klopp or Pep vs ten Hag either, because we’ve already had that narrative on any number of previous occasions.

“It was originally called the Charity Shield, and the money raised from the game was given to good causes. It still is. So we should promote that angle way more than we do currently.

“This year’s partner is MIND, and there’s a whole four or five days leading up to it where players, instead of talking about the inane rivalry of Man United against Manchester City, should be highlighting the charity and the issues they face etc.

“Let’s be perfectly honest, it’s the last meaningless friendly before the big kick-off, so moving forward, let’s get back to what the Community Shield is all about. Charity.”

Some fifty years ago, back in 1974, Liverpool’s Kevin Keegan was poleaxed by a right hook from Leeds United’s Johnny Giles in what was then known as the Charity Shield, but that’s about the most intense thing to have occurred in the fixture.

It’s supposed to be a game in which players can ease themselves through 90 minutes without picking up any injuries.

With supporters seemingly looking for any chance for one-upmanship, it’s seen the Community Shield evidently take on a more ‘competitive’ feel, and that’s completely missing the purpose of the game.

There are so many other opportunities for the clubs that compete in the Community Shield to go at it hammer and tongs too, so as Collymore suggests, perhaps now is the right time to rediscover the true meaning behind this curtain raiser.

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Romano: “Still a chance” for £50m-rated international striker that Man United love to move this summer

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 06:19:47 +0000

They’ve already bought Joshua Zirkzee this summer, but it appears that Man United could still be ready to add a £50m-rated international ace to their strike force before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Focus seems to be on defensive reinforcements at present, given that Erik ten Hag is set to be without Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof for the Community Shield game against Man City, and potentially beyond.

Man United’s striker chase signals real intent

Moves for Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt have been in abeyance for some while now, and as each day passes, the need to sign the pair becomes more and more acute. It isn’t entirely clear at this point what the hold up is.

Though defence remains a priority, if the club can bring in another front man, it looks likely that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his board will authorise the deal.

Football Insider suggest that the Red Devils will make a bid for Brentford’s Ivan Toney, and Fabrizio Romano, talking to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing, hasn’t ruled out such a move.

Man United could bid for Ivan Toney before the closure of the transfer window

“I think there’s still a chance for a move to happen this summer for Ivan Toney,” he said.

“There could be movements in the next days and weeks, but there’s nothing imminent so far.

“We have to see about which clubs have a concrete interest, because about 10 different clubs have been rumoured to be interested in him this summer.

“I don’t want to put out names without any concrete updates but, for sure, it’s still an open situation.”

It seems fairly clear that, as we enter the final few weeks of the window, that the race for certain players, including Ivan Toney, is going to hot up.

Brentford have had to drop their price significantly, and if anything that makes him a more attractive proposition to buying clubs.

He will have to get back on the goal trail quickly, however, with WhoScored noting he managed just four since his comeback in January, none of which were scored after February 17.

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“One to watch” – Fabrizio Romano advances important Man United update that could split fan base

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:16:26 +0000

There’s only a week to go before Man United begin their 2024/25 Premier League campaign against Fulham.

The Red Devils will open proceedings in the English top-flight with their Friday night fixture against the Cottagers, and Erik ten Hag will be hoping that he can count on the vast majority of his first-team for the encounter.

Ahead of this weekend’s Community Shield against Man City, it’s understood that the likes of Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all doubtful for the fixture.

Man United ace’s future still open

With Leny Yoro out for the foreseeable future too, once again United will have a patchwork defence, something that ten Hag struggled with in the previous campaign.

A potential double swoop for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich can’t come soon enough.

Away from United’s defensive troubles, there could still be business to be done elsewhere in the squad.

Although things have settled down significantly for him, Jadon Sancho could still be on the move.

Man United’s Jadon Sancho could still be on the move this summer

“He is 100 percent part of the Man United team, but in case of a formal proposal in the next three weeks, there could still be movement for Jadon Sancho,” Fabrizio Romano told CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing.

“Man United could be open to doing business and the player could also be open to the move, so it all depends on the proposals.

“Now, everything is okay, but PSG and others have been making contact with Sancho’s agents.

“Still no bid but the situation is one to watch until the end of the window.”

Nothing from Man United’s point of view would suggest that there have been any ongoing issues between player and club, and he could prove to be an asset for ten Hag if no acceptable offers are forthcoming.

Reading between the lines, however, advancing news that Sancho is open to a move would suggest that the club are still looking to offload him.

United’s long-suffering fan base are likely to be split down the middle as to whether they want him to stay or not, given what happened during last season.

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Erik ten Hag admits summer signing was “very bad” for Man United last season

Darren Looney — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 18:34:07 +0000

Man United boss Erik ten Hag has surprisingly admitted that 2023 summer signing Mason Mount had a “very bad season” at Old Trafford but still has faith in the midfielder ahead of the new campaign.

The Englishman completed a £55m move to the Manchester club last summer after deciding to leave Chelsea having spent his whole career with the West London team.

The decision was a big one for Mount as the 25-year-old was a player the Stamford Bridge faithful adored having come through their youth system to become a Champions League winner; however, the switch to Old Trafford has not worked out for the midfielder so far.

Last season was a disaster for the former Chelsea star as his campaign was plagued with injuries and that stopped him from building up any momentum.

When Mount did play, the Englishman was not very good and finished the campaign with just one goal and one assist across 20 games in all competitions.

The 25-year-old will be like a new signing for Ten Hag this season and the Dutch coach has faith in the player despite stating that the midfielder had a “very bad season” last time around. The Man United boss will be trying to help the former Chelsea star rediscover the form that led to the Red Devils buying him and if he is successful, Mount could be in for a top campaign.

Mason Mount struggled at Man United last season

Mason Mount had “a very bad season” at Man United admits Erik ten Hag

Speaking ahead of Man United’s clash with Man City in the FA Community Shield on Saturday, Ten Hag commented on Mount and has shown faith in the 25-year-old ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

“We know he’s a high-class player and just bringing skills in,” the Dutch coach said via Fabrizio Romano.

“Last season, he had a very bad season, a very tough season for him because of all the injuries, and now we are very pleased he had a good pre-season.

“I’m sure he can do great.”

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