Erik ten Hag urged Manchester United fans to “be patient, sit and wait” as they seek news on incoming players ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.
United have been heavily linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte as they seek to further bolster a squad already strengthened this summer by the arrivals of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui.
Ugarte would be a big signing for United – who opened their Premier League campaign last Friday night with a 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford – but Ten Hag was giving nothing away.
He said: “Be patient, sit, wait. We will always try to make the best squad possible. We have a couple of days and we will always improve. As long as we have the opportunity we will look for it.”
On United’s business so far this summer, he added: “Very pleased. They’re showing we’re going in the right direction.
“We know as a club we have to catch up but it shows our ambition, the way we want to go.
“We have done good business, very good players, quality players who will add, contribute to our squad and the quality of our squad.”
Who’s fit for Brighton? 🤔
Erik has issued an update on his squad ahead of Saturday’s #PL game ⤵️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 22, 2024
Zirkzee netted the winner against Fulham after coming off the bench, and Ten Hag was delighted to see him get on the scoresheet so soon into his United career.
He said: “Very pleasing that a player who is a striker scores his first goal in his first game, that will give him confidence.
“I give the comparison last year with Rasmus Hojlund that when he scored against Brighton and the VAR looked, five minutes later they came to the conclusion the ball crossed the line in the assist and he had to wait thee months for his first Premier League goal.
“It helps absolutely scoring his first goal, it gives him confidence and gives us confidence as a team.”
United go to Brighton this Saturday with Victor Lindelof still absent due to a toe injury, with Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Hojlund also unavailable.
Jadon Sancho, back in the fold following his public falling out with Ten Hag last season, could be in the squad, however.
Dutchman Ten Hag said: “We will see. We have a squad and I hope we will have a squad with double positioning. When we go into the season after 1 September, that means you can’t select all the players but you need them all throughout the season because it is survival of the fittest.
“We have to manage it, the attitude of the players is very important, sometimes they will be disappointed they are not in the starting XI but they have to deal with it, you win as a squad.
“The prizes are decided next May and until then we need all the players in the squad highly motivated, that is not an expectation, that is a demand on the squad.
“The team is always more important than any individual.”
