Erik ten Hag has indicated that Manchester United are happy with their striker options as the transfer deadline nears, but a new left-back may be targeted after losing Luke Shaw to injury.
The Red Devils splashed the cash on Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund earlier this summer, committing to a deal that could eventually be worth £62m if all performance related add-ons are triggered.
Hojlund spent just one season at Atalanta having arrived from Sturm Graz, and scored nine goals in 32 Serie A appearances.
He is yet to feature for United after arriving at Old Trafford with a back problem, with subsequent concerns raised over a potential stress fracture issue which may limit the number of consecutive games Hojlund can play.
Hojlund is back in training and is expected to be a part of United‘s squad for their final Premier League game before the international break, with United’s other options Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and, to a lesser extent, Jadon Sancho.
But even though Martial is injury prone and Rashford and Sancho better suited to playing out wide, Ten Hag says he’s happy with the options at his disposal and another fresh face isn’t required.
“No. We have seven front players and young talent coming up, as we’ve seen in pre-season, who are getting close,” Ten Hag said if asked if United were short up front. “Rasmus [Hojlund] will be available from next week onwards. Rasmus, Anthony Martial, we have cover. We have Rashy as well there. We have enough quality players to cover that position.”
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But Ten Hag did admit that losing Luke Shaw to injury, at a time when Tyrell Malacia is sidelined, may force United to look for cover at left-back.
“It can be (that United sign a left-back). I think we always have to anticipate on situations. If there are opportunities then yes, but it has to be the right player otherwise we have to deal with the current squad,” he said.
“We went through the scenarios before the season and if it happened, we have the solution.”
Diogo Dalot is expected to fill in against Nottingham Forest, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s right-back berth seemingly secure amid continued speculation about his future at United.
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On this edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders and Rob Blanchette discuss the impact of Luke Shaw and Mason Mount’s injuries and whether Erik ten Hag shoud look to the club’s youth players for support.
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