Transfer Centre

Erik ten Hag rules out attacking addition before end of transfer window

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 26 August 2023

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that the club are not looking to bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes for business.

The Red Devils spent big on Rasmus Hojlund earlier this summer, but the Denmark international is yet to feature for his new club due to a troublesome back issue.

Man United have only scored once in their two Premier League matches this season, which came from centre-back Raphael Varane, with Marcus Rashford struggling at centre-forward.

Anthony Martial, meanwhile, cannot be relied upon to stay fit for an extended period due to his injury problems.

The 20-time English champions have recently been linked with Santos's Marcos Leonardo, with a report claiming that the club were lining up an offer for the Brazilian.

Santos forward Marcos Leonardo pictured in June 2022 © Reuters

However, Ten Hag, speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest, said that Man United are not currently in the market for a centre-forward.

Hojlund is set to be available for next weekend's trip to Arsenal, and the club's head coach has said that he is happy with his options in the final third of the field.

"No, because Rasmus will be available from next week on and then we are with Rasmus, with Anthony Martial. We have coverage and also, of course, we have Rashy [Marcus Rashford] as well there. So we have enough players to cover and quality players to cover that position," said the Dutchman.

However, Ten Hag was critical of his forward players for their lack of movement during the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford in action with Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min on August 19, 2023 © Reuters

"They didn't run. And when they did run, it was in the wrong moment and it was too late. Especially the front, they didn't recover," said the head coach on Friday.

"It happened. You can't turn it around. It's a demand here if you want to win games. And we were, for the first 35 minutes, we were so good in the game and we dominated the game totally.

"We should have scored a minimum once but I think two and they were nowhere. Nothing. And then things happened in the game and then they got distracted, not doing the jobs anymore.

"And that's not the demands from a Manchester United player, from our team and I'm not used to it from this team because they always do. And that is what the players and what the fans can expect. But we have to demand."

Man United are believed to be looking to sign a goalkeeper and a central midfielder before the transfer window closes at the end of next week, though, while a left-back could also arrive due to Luke Shaw's recent injury.