Erik ten Hag has already finalized Manchester United’s summer transfer intentions.
Manchester United have positions to fill in their roster this summer, but Erik ten Hag is already talking about the next transfer window.
When Manchester United recruited Wout Weghorst on loan from Championship club Burnley in January, he was viewed as a stopgap measure, a creative – and inexpensive – answer to a problem precipitated by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
Nobody, not even Weghorst, could have predicted a string of 13 consecutive starts for his new club, a streak that includes his first career medal and is currently held by only one player (Bruno Fernandes has started 14 in a row).
It would be an exaggeration to state that the 30-year-old has become an essential component in Erik ten Hag’s machine. It’s more a case of his role becoming more valuable as a result of Anthony Martial’s continuous fitness difficulties.
It also fueled speculation over whether United should pursue both players in the summer. Burnley will consider selling Weghorst, and Bayern Munich may release Sabitzer, 28. A world-class forward is being pursued this summer, but Weghorst may provide depth in that position, and United also require another midfielder.
When queried about the possibilities this week, Ten Hag cautioned prudence in making big judgments on potential deals, preferring to stay focused on a demanding season for his quadruple-chasing side.
“I think it’s much too quick, much too soon to talk about that,” Ten Hag said. “First, we are in this season. That is where the only focus has to be. No distractions for what is coming next season.
“No, we are in this season and we are in the right positon in this moment. This is the position we want to be because we are competing in three competitions.”
There are additional reasons to delay pushing for permanent agreements. To begin, the primary target must be an elite-level striker, such as Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen. That is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle that Ten Hag needs to complete right now, especially with Martial having had a terrible and dismal season.
But the success of Sabitzer and Weghorst in short-term moves to Old Trafford suggests more than just that they are two good players. They’ve settled into a functioning side, with a strong mindset and a good team spirit, and they’re playing for a manager who assigns them clear duties.
In other words, if you’re a talented player, it’s not tough to get in with this United squad. If Sabitzer and Weghorst had come in on loan the previous January and had to play for a squad that was breaking apart, lacking structure and knowledge, they would have struggled considerably more.
Thus, as talented as Sabitzer and Weghorst are, they are also buoyed by the collective. The same might be said for other prospective summer permanent additions.
