Erik ten Hag shuts down Manchester United summer transfer target question

Erik ten Hag has rubbished the idea that the recent loss to Liverpool has changed his transfer plans for the summer.

Manchester United face Southampton on Sunday afternoon as Erik ten Hag looks to write the wrong of a 7-0 thrashing against Liverpool last weekend.

United most recently defeated Real Betis 4-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday evening, a fixture which Ten Hag called the first step to redemption after the loss seven days ago.

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A lot of speculation has surrounded Erik ten Hag’s transfer targets for the summer with the most recent reports claiming that Harry Kane is now the number one priority to bring in.

Although, it has been said that Kane could cost United upwards of £100 million to secure his services from Tottenham Hotspur for next season and beyond.

Speaking ahead of the Southampton fixture, Erik Ten Hag was asked if recent performances have changed his plans for summer transfer targets – a question he quickly dismissed, with good reason.

“No, it can’t,” he said. “It can’t change after one game but that is a continuing process, and that is running in the background.

“In this moment, the main focus is from game to game – the first game is always the most important and now this is for Sunday [against] Southampton.”

In relation to the Liverpool loss, Ten Hag was also asked if Manchester United need to look ‘over their shoulder’ in the Premier League or if they can still look ahead to Arsenal and Manchester City in the table.

“No, we go from game to game, and we are not looking over our shoulders,” he said. “We have to focus on our progress and what others are doing, that is not for us.

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“We have to improve our game and every player has to improve, and so we have to win games and do that from game to game.”

You can watch the full second part of Erik ten Hag’s pre-Southampton press conference here.