Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed he wants to sign a goalscorer in the January transfer window. In an interview with members of the British press at United’s winter training camp in Jerez, Ten Hag was asked if he felt United needed to bring a forward in next month
Erik ten hag said: “Yes, but only when we find the right player. We do everything in our power. We are doing research on every opportunity and we do everything we can if that opportunity is there to contract them.”
United sources insist they will resist moving for a bargain option, having loaned in then 31-year-old Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua on deadline day in January 2020. Club figures have suggested finances are ‘stretched’ after a record summer where United invested £225.4million in signings and the impact of the pandemic. Ten Hag believes Martial has the attributes to be a complete striker and is encouraged by his four goals and two assists in seven games this term.
Erik ten Hag added: “The first challenge for him is to be available and fit which, firstly, he has to be responsible for it but we have to support him in all the ways we can. We have seen when he is available he has a massive impact on our game. He has 293 minutes, four goals and two assists. That’s a really good record. In parts of his game, like pressing, he is doing a really good job for the team linking up the play. For our team, he’s a really important player and we need that profile. I think he is [happy] but he was so disappointed that he had bad luck with the injury. In the past, maybe he did something wrong, I don’t know. But now it was also bad luck and you come in a process from injuries. And now we have to stop the process and we get him and he gets himself in a better position so that he’s fit and available. For his game and development and progress it would be great. Sometimes [he needs an arm around the shoulder], not only just with him. Players need it and have to be backed.”
Marcus Rashford is United’s top scorer on four goals, Antony and Jadon Sancho are on three and Alejandro Garnacho has netted two winners. Anthony Elanga is without a club goal since he equalised against Atletico Madrid on February 22. Antony missed United’s last five games with a muscular injury and Sancho has not played since October 22 due to illness. The winger is on a personal fitness programme under coaches recommended by Ten Hag in the Netherlands and did not train with the United squad in Spain.
