Erik ten Hag’s next Manchester United transfer plans outlined by ex-player

With Erik ten Hag now settling into the second season of his Manchester United rebuild, planning will be underway for the squad’s next areas needed for improvement.

Manchester United have had a rocky start to life during the initial stages of the 2023/24 season, having won two and lost two of their opening few Premier League fixtures.

Wins against Wolves and Forest against Wolves and Nottingham Forest have been paired with losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal – with Erik ten Hag failing to have a consistent starting centre-back pairing.

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Although Rahpaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez are the preferred choice, Varane was unavailable against Arsenal, with Victor Lindelöf starting in his place.

Speaking on Varane’s injury record and whether Manchester United should prioritise a move for a centre-back next summer, Andy Cole believes that the club should target a replacement for the Frenchman.

“Most probably, that wouldn’t surprise me,” Cole told BetFred when asked whether he thinks a move should happen.

“Over the last five years, Manchester United have spent over £150 million on centre-backs and in that time they never brought in a centre-forward, until this summer of course.”

“So now you’re possibly talking about buying another centre-half because unfortunately, you don’t know what Varane’s going to be able to give due to his injury record. 

“I think that I’m as frustrated as anybody else when it comes to how Manchester United do things because it’s as if they’re doing everything back to front. They have so, so much to do before they’re in a position to compete.”

Varane is arguably United’s best central defender, but his injury record in recent times has caused issues for Ten Hag.

The French defender has missed 35 Manchester United games through injury so far in his two-and-a-bit year career at Old Trafford – an understudy and eventual replacement may benefit the squad.