Man Utd players ‘expect Erik ten Hag sack’ after training decision raised eyebrows
It’s not looking good for Erik ten Hag as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS weigh up his Man Utd future.
Several Manchester United players reportedly believe Erik ten Hag will be sacked this summer as the club’s disastrous season stumbles to an underwhelming conclusion. Just one win in seven Premier League games has obliterated morale and left Ten Hag’s minimum requirement of Champions League qualification almost out of reach.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 28 per cent stake in February increased scrutiny on the Dutchman’s position amid a below-par second campaign.
INEOS have overseen sweeping changes in the United hierarchy since inheriting total control of football operations from the Glazer family.
Omar Berrada will replace Richard Arnold as chief executive this summer, and Jason Wilcox is set to join him as technical director in the coming weeks. Both have contributed to Manchester City’s current successful structure.
Dan Ashworth will also arrive as the club’s new sporting director once he serves his Newcastle United gardening leave, with further appointments expected.
United’s lack of progress on the pitch this term has left Ten Hag’s future in serious doubt, and sections of his dressing room reportedly believe he is already resigned to his fate.
According to the Manchester Evening News, numerous United players are convinced the club will have a new head coach next season.
Much of the current senior squad isn’t guaranteed to remain at Old Trafford beyond the summer as Ratcliffe looks to get ruthless in driving change on and off the pitch.
However, some players are said to be delaying decisions on their futures, and it remains to be seen who will be in charge of the 2024/25 campaign.
Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton are all out of contract in July. Sofyan Amrabat’s loan won’t become permanent.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, and Amad Diallo are all.
And Ten Hag could be among the departures, despite insisting he had “no doubts” he would receive a third year in the Old Trafford dugout.
The report adds that Ten Hag’s decision to hand his players a day off last Monday after the 2-2 draw against Liverpool. He is claimed to treat recovery days more seriously than previous managers.
Whether that’s a desperate attempt to change his approach and salvage the season remains to be seen. What is certain, though, is that United are on course for their worst-ever Premier League season.
Fabrizio Romano confirms Anthony Martial and 8 others will definitely leave Man United this summer
Football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Anthony Martial will definitely leave Manchester United at the end of the season.
It will be an inauspicious ending to a United career that promised so much in the early stages, in fact, right from his 2015 debut when he scored a dazzling goal against arch rivals Liverpool that also won the club’s goal of the season award.
There have been flashes of brilliance since those early days but a series of unfortunate injuries and inconsistent form have meant Martial never truly fulfilled the massive potential he showed when Louis van Gaal signed him from Monaco.
His high £250,000 per week pay packet and injury history make it difficult for United to sell the Frenchman so, as many expected, it is now absolutely decided that his one-year contract extension will not be triggered.
Romano says in his Daily Briefing:
“Martial is going to leave – he had some opportunities in Turkey and France in the January transfer window, let’s see what will happen in the next months but for sure he’s not staying at Man United.”
The guru further states that: It’s also crucial to say that United will sign a new striker because Martial is leaving and so they want more competition there in the number 9 position.”
Martial has lasted an incredible nine years at the club despite the writing having been on the wall long ago that the fit was never right.
This is reportedly due to owner Joel Glazer’s particular fondness for the player, who he allegedly dubbed “United’s Pelé”.
The maligned owner reportedly blocked Martial’s sale twice over the years, such was his belief in him.
However, according to the terms of the agreement with partial investors INEOS, Glazer no longer has any say in football decisions and it is fitting that the very first window after he relinquished control will see his favourite player finally depart.
Manchester United now open to selling Antony to save big wages, replace him with Michael Olise.
Manchester United’s draw against Bournemouth after another laboured performance further ramped up the pressure on Erik ten Hag.
It’s just one win in the last seven and after faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, it’s now a desperate attempt to cling onto any European place at all.
However, for once, a bad performance wasn’t led by Antony, who has impressed in recent weeks and was curiously absent from the squad vs Bournemouth.
Several conjectures followed and the status remains hazy but one status that might be clearing up now is his future at United.
Respected transfer insider Rudy Galletti reports that United have made up their mind about selling Antony in the summer.
Rudy Galetti
@RudyGaletti
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🚨↩️ #ManUTD are planning to sell #Antony in the summer for an “acceptable” amount, trying to maximize the sale and save his big salary (£6m/y until 2027).
📑 Micheal #Olise remains at the top of the list to replace the 🇧🇷 winger, but also other names are monitored by #MUFC.
There is a feeling that he will be sold for any respectable amount, which is sure to be nowhere near the £80 million or so they paid for him in 2022.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS want to get rid of his £6 million/year wages and any transfer fee over that amount will be welcome.
In his place, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise is a target, the Frenchman who has impressed greatly in the Premier League.
Olise is also a left-footed right-winger but has shown consistent production levels in the Premier League.
Furthermore, he is undoubtedly going to be on lesser wages than Antony, whose contract, even without the benefit of hindsight at the time, looked exorbitant.
The new regime at Old Trafford is eager to get the wage structure in line and selling off some of the more egregious errors of the previous regime is the first step towards doing so.
If Antony is sold, it will be another hammer blow to the ever-decreasing authority of Ten Hag, who w
as the key driver behind his signing from Ajax and has remained a staunch defender of the player.
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