Erik ten Hag makes ‘personal request’ for top striker as Liverpool quoted price for Pedro Neto

Patrick McCarry

The United boss had carte blanche with his first few signings but the situation has changed.

When Erik ten Hag took over at Old Trafford, he had a huge say in that first tranche of Manchester United transfers – incomings and outgoings.

Although he only officially took over on July 1st 2022, the Dutchman had been announced as United boss back in April of that year. A day after he took over, the club had already officially parted ways with Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic and Edinson Cavani [four were released, Matic joined Roma on a free transfer].

Ten Hag brought in Tyrell Malacia (Feyenoord), Christian Eriksen (unattached) and Lisandro Martinez (Ajax). In panic mode after losing to Brighton, at home, and being walloped by Brentford, the club pushed ahead, at ten Hag’s urging, with big deals to get Casemiro (Real Madrid) and Antony (Ajax) in.

Out of those five players, only Martinez could be hailed as a success. Casemiro started off well but picked up some costly suspensions and started this season off at a lag before getting injured. Ten Hag was restricted in the January 2023 transfer market but his loan signings of Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst hardly drove the side on.

The summer of 2023 saw a significant change in how United went after transfers. André Onana was another signing ten Hag was pushing for, after making his feelings clear on David De Gea. However, Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount were transfers he was consulted on but did not have the final say in. Of that trio, Mount and Onana are still on shaky ground while Hojlund is finally netting after a tough start.

Ten Hag now has the new Head of Football Operations, Jim Ratcliffe, and his team to debate United transfers with. He can bring a wish-list, and weigh in on players the scouting team bring in, but he does not have the final say on matters.

That change makes it all the more fascinating when you consider the FIVE summer transfer targets United are currently being linked with, including two former Ajax players.

Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag makes ‘personal request’ over United transfers

Over in Spain, Fichajes is reporting that Erik ten Hag has made a ‘personal request’ for Manchester United to bring in Lautaro Martinez in the summer transfer marker.

Hojlund has scored 11 times, so far, this season but Antony (1), Marcus Rashford (5) and Anthony Martial (2) have had underwhelming returns. Midfielder Scott McTominay, with seven goals, is the club’s leading scorer in the Premier League, this season.

Martinez has had one sub-20 goal season in Italy in the last five years and that was when 2020/21, when he scored 19 times. He currently has 22 goals for Inter Milan, this season, and talks over a new deal have stalled. The big issue for United is one that impacted on just about every Premier League club in the January transfer window – Financial Fair Play. Martinez is valued at €110 million so United would need to get some big names/salaries out the door to get the Argentine World Cup winner in.

A player that once played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, and who would cost between €65-70m, is defender Matthijs De Ligt. The Netherlands international played two seasons under ten Hag, in Amsterdam, before playing with Juventus and Bayern Munich, his current club. It is being widely reported that United are looking at the 24-year-old, with one outlet saying they are in ‘pole position’ for his signature, ahead of Arsenal.

United are not the only club taking a really close look at Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, currently the only club left in the top European leagues undefeated. The Manchester Evening News is reporting that the 20-time Premier League champions have Lerekusen’s Netherlands right-back Jeremie Frimpong and Burkino Faso centre-back Edmond Tapsoba on their list of transfer options. That duo could cost a combined €100m to bring over from Germany.

Not done with the former Ajax players – and we won’t spent too much time on this as it is well past saga stage – Spanish outlet Sport is reporting that Frenkie De Jong is unhappy with Barcelona’s latest contract offer and is ‘willing to listen to offers’. The midfielder was ten Hag’s No.1 priority, in 2022, and could slot in well to a United midfield if the likes of Eriksen and Casemiro moved on.

Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool and Arsenal looking at Pedro Neto

Looked upon as a decent prospect for the past three years, Pedro Neto’s progress at Wolves was slowed by a couple of injury set-backs, but he is looking good for Gary O’Neil’s side this season [three goals, eight assists in 18 appearances].

It is being reported that Liverpool and Arsenal are both keen on the 23-year-old as a summer signing. Mo Salah could potentially move to Saudi Arabia after Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp departs, so Neto could be used in a new-look Liverpool attack, along with Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota. Football Insider claims Liverpool have been told £60 million will secure the services of Neto from Wolves.

There is a cheaper fee being quoted for Bernardo Silva, who is only six years older than Neto and has a stack more big-game experience, and medals. We go back to Spanish outlet Fichajes, who say Paris Saint Germain are desperate to get Silva in the summer, and will definitely not be put off by his £51 million (€60m) release clause.

Elsewhere in the transfer world, Tottenham are reportedly telling Liverpool to stay clear of a post-Klopp transfer target – Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu.

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