Erik ten Hag dealt summer blow as Man Utd manager considers ‘suitable offer’

The Erik ten Hag era is alive and kicking, with plenty of work to be done this summer.

Manchester United chose to stick with the Dutchman despite the recent torrid season, in which Ten Hag guided United to their worst-ever Premier League finish, albeit while navigating an injury crisis and still managing to mastermind a memorable 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

This summer, however, will need to be big for Ten Hag if he is to vindicate the faith placed in him for another season, with a number of transfer targets in mind.

Below the Mirror runs through the latest United news you need to know.

Chelsea move first in battle for Olise

Chelsea made the first move in the battle for £60million Michael Olise in a potential blow for United’s pursuit of the highly-desired 22-year-old.

As Mirror Football revealed, the Blues are desperate to beat both Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Liverpool for Olise’s signing and have made contact with Crystal Palace this week.

Palace – who accept he wants to play in the Champions League – will only listen to offers between £60m-£70m to land the man who scored 10 times from just 14 league starts, assisting six times over the past season.

United are in the market this summer for a central defender, a midfielder and a striker to help Rasmus Hojlund with the goal-scoring load now that Anthony Martial has departed the club this summer after nine years.

Sancho’s bleak United future

With his veto power in tow, Ten Hag is also set to make three demands, according to The Sun.

The Dutchman will continue to not allow Jadon Sancho back into the first team unless the 24-year-old apologises. The pair fell out at the beginning of last season and Sancho ultimately moved on loan to Borussia Dortmund to reinvigorate his career.

It appears the club planned to sell their £73million signing regardless of who is in charge, but with Ten Hag remaining on board, Sancho’s future looks destined to be outside Old Trafford’s walls.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag’s other demands include not allowing the club’s hierarchy to interfere or dictate his style of play, along with the renewal of coach Benni McCarthy’s contract.

United’s Branthwaite alternative

Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Ten Hag is keen to bring in a new central defender, given the departure of Raphael Varane and the injury crisis endured between Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelof this past season.

United used 15 different centre-back pairings this season, closing the campaign with Casemiro at the heart of defence for the final six league games. He had three separate centre-back partners in that time.

Links to numerous targets have emerged in recent weeks with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite appearing to be the priority, but Everton’s asking price may be a stumbling block.

And according to Sky Germany, United are interested in signing Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munch. The Dutch centre-back is expected to leave Bayern this summer and previously worked with Ten Hag at Ajax.

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern will apparently sell the 24-year-old for a “suitable offer” as they prepare to sign Stuttgart’s Hiroki Ito and also chase a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.

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