Usually, coaches who embark on a new adventure tend to rely on those players that gave them fame and glory, and Erik Ten Hag is ready to follow that pattern even if he has to make some drastic changes to Manchester United's squad.
After the exits of players that ran out of contract such as Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, and Nemanja Matic, the newly-appointed coach is interested in convincing his bosses to splash the cash to give him all the tools he needs to make the Red Devils great again. Those moves would require the team's hierarchy to agree handsome fees for some of Ten Hag's transfer targets, all of them familiar faces to the coach or to his former club, Ajax.
The first name on Ten Hag's list, according to reports coming in from England, is that of Brazilian winger Antony. The Ajax footballer became a star for the Dutch side under Ten Hag, and the coach has identified his former pupil as key to his plans at Old Trafford. Rumors suggest that Antony would be the first signing for the Red Devils under Ten Hag's lead.
Next up, the coach wants to boost the team's midfield with two signings. The first one of them would be Frenkie de Jong, who is deemed as the Red Devils' primary transfer target, and with Barcelona's need to sell so they can hire reinforcements, the deal for the midfielder would be one of the first to take place.
The other intended signing for Manchester United's midfield would be none other than Christian Eriksen. The Danish playmaker returned to top-tier football with a bang, helping Brentford keep their spot in the Premier League. Now, the player's deal with the Bees has concluded, allowing him to join whichever team he desires on a free move.
Last, but not least, Ten Hag is said to be interested in adding depth to the team's defense, and the man that could bring that to the club is none other than Lisandro Martínez. The Argentine player is capable of playing as a center back, as a left back, or even as a defensive midfielder if needed, which would surely come in handy for the English club. Even though he is seen as a low-profile player, the 24-year-old is expected to make the final cut to play for Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Be that as it may, these signings could put Manchester United back in the spotlight under Ten Hag. Nevertheless, anything can happen during the transfer window, and with the English club not being involved in UEFA Champions League football, some of these players may think twice before they choose to join them.
