Ten Hag tells Manchester United board of need for a forward, looking forward to integrating Ronaldo

United
travelled
to
Thailand
and
Australia
for
the
first
part
of
their
pre-season
obligations
with
reserve
left-back
Tyrell
Malacia
the
only
new
signing
Ten
Hag
has
been
able
to
work
with.

Christian
Eriksen
and
Lisandro
Martinez
have
since
agreed
switches
to
Old
Trafford,
while
a
move
for
Barcelona
midfielder
Frenkie
de
Jong
–
who
worked
with
Ten
Hag
at
Ajax
–
is
still
in
the
works,
albeit
that
deal
is
fraught
with
difficulties.

But
Ten
Hag
wants
attacking
reinforcements
to
bolster
a
forward
line
including
Marcus
Rashford,
Anthony
Martial
and
Jadon
Sancho.

Superstar
striker
Ronaldo
is
too
still
on
the
books
despite
reports
suggesting
he
wants
to
depart
Old
Trafford
less
than
12
months
after
returning.

A
move
for
Ajax’s
Antony
has
been
touted,
with
one
of
the
winger’s
representatives,
Junior
Pedroso,
said
to
have
been
in
Manchester
for
talks,
though
an
asking
price
of
€80million
(£68m)
is
thought
to
be
a
sticking
point.

When
asked
if
an
injury
up
top
could
leave
United
short,
Ten
Hag
told
a
news
conference:
“That
is
a
reason
but
also
the
number
of
games.
You
need
more
options
in
the
offence.

“I
think
it’s
vital
if
you
want
to
get
success
–
the
season
is
really
long
–
but
we
also
still
have
time
to
fill
that
in.”

Ronaldo
did
not
travel
with
United
for
personal
reasons
unrelated
to
his
future.
Asked
if
there
was
any
update
about
when
he
might
join
up
with
the
squad
Ten
Hag
added:
“No
–
it
is
the
same
[situation]
as
last
week.”

Questioned
on
whether
there
was
“concern”
over
Ronaldo’s
fitness
for
the
new
campaign,
Ten
Hag
said:
“Of
course,
but
concerned
is
maybe
not
the
right
word.

“I
focus
on
the
players
who
are
here.
They
are
doing
really
well,
they
are
in
good
shape.
I
prefer
to
focus
on
that
and
develop
that.

“But
I
cannot
wait
for
[Ronaldo]
to
come
in.
Then
we
will
integrate
him
[into
the
team].”

United’s
competitors
by
contrast
have
concluded
business
swiftly,
with
Liverpool,
Manchester
City,
Arsenal,
Chelsea
and
Tottenham
acting
quickly
in
the
market.

Ten
Had
concedes
it
is
not
ideal
working
without
new
signings
but
is
confident
the
squad
will
adapt.

“It
is
definitely
an
advantage
we
could
have
but
we
are
not
in
that
situation,”
he
said.

“Then
you
have
to
deal
with
that
situation.
You
have
to
develop
the
team
with
the
players
you
have.
That’s
what
we
do.

“Back
in
Manchester,
Eriksen,
Martinez,
will
join
in,
we
have
more
options.
I
think
they
can
quite
quickly
integrate
into
the
team.”

Another
headache
for
Ten
Hag
is
how
to
get
the
best
out
of
skipper
Harry
Maguire,
who
has
endured
a
difficult
12
months
and
was
the
subject
of
boos
during
United’s
4-1
win
over
Melbourne
Victory
on
Tuesday.

Ten
Hag
told
the
England
centre-back
the
only
way
to
win
over
the
doubters
is
via
his
performances
on
the
pitch.

“About
Maguire
we
heard
[the
boos]
but
you
see,
if
you
perform,
it
slows
down,”
he
added.
“I
think
[Maguire]
and
the
team
impressed
with
the
way
we
played.

“I
don’t
think
it
matters
to
find
out
if
I
understand
it
[the
boos].
It’s
about
how
we
can
change
it.
So
it’s
the
team
and
Harry
himself
by
performing.
That
is
what
we’re
working
on.
That
is
the
only
focus.”