Erik ten Hag to ruin Man Utd's summer rebuild plans and hijack transfer with fee from Florian Wirtz move

Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag will reportedly look to hijack Manchester United's transfer plans with part of the fee from Florian Wirtz's Liverpool move.

The former United boss was appointed at Leverkusen last month, replacing the Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso.

Bayer won the Bundesliga title in 2023/24 after recording an unbeaten season, before finishing second behind Bayern Munich last season.

That means that, while they have already lost Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool and have agreed a deal to sell Wirtz for an upfront fee of £100 million (plus £16 million in add-ons), the club still has plenty of pull in the transfer market through its participation in the Champions League.

They have been linked with a move for Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho, who worked with Ten Hag at Old Trafford. Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenburg, however, claims that deal is 'very unlikely' due to the transfer fee and wages being demanded.

It is now being reported by the Daily Record that Ten Hag is searching only marginally further from Old Trafford for an alternative signing.

The Dutchman is said to be interested in signing Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, who appears likely to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer after not being included in their Club World Cup squad.

He has instead been allowed to play in the U21 European Championship with England, and started their 3-1 win over Czechia in the opening group stage match on Thursday.

Man City midfielder James McAtee in action for England U21 (Image: Getty)

The same outlet claims that Ten Hag's former club United have also been credited with an interest in signing the 22-year-old.

United are likely to lose several home-grown players, including Marcus Rashford and Garnacho, this summer and Salford-born McAtee would fill a vital gap in the squad for registration rules.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror report that Leverkusen will attempt to sign Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert, who scored 12 Premier League goals last season, as a direct replacement for Wirtz.

Andoni Iraola's side have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, with Antoine Semenyo linked with a move to both United and Tottenham and left-back Milos Kerkez believed to be in ongoing talks with Liverpool.

A move to Leverkusen would unite Kluivert with compatriot Ten Hag, and represent a return to the Bundesliga after he made 19 appearances on loan at RB Leipzig during the 2020/21 season.