Erik ten Hag spoke of his penchant for targeting players who have a quality that matches their price but being put off by the price of English players in the current market.
Ahead of the game against Crystal Palace, Erik ten Hag finally sat down for his most detailed and intricate discussion of his Manchester United plans during a media day after a morning session with the players in Melbourne.
Thus far, Ten Hag has largely avoided post-match press conferences and media beyond what is deemed necessary, with a firm focus of vigorously coaching the players in training sessions.
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A lot was revealed on a number of different issues within the club, but one fascinating insight as part of the big interview went some way to explain the strategy that we’ve seen thus far in this transfer window.
Ten Hag and Manchester United have mainly gone after players with Dutch affiliation, be it players who have previously played with Ajax or have some ties to the Eredivisie.
Fans have already seen Tyrell Malacia signed for a paltry €15 million euros from Feyenoord, Christian Eriksen who had an initial career breakthrough with the Dutch giants agreed a move to Old Trafford, and the most recent acquisition of Lisandro Martinez being confirmed soon after the finally announced that they had agreed a deal with Ajax.
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There is also still the cloud of former Ajax player Frenkie de Jong saga hanging over the entire window as Ten Hag aims to continue pushing for his priority signing.
When the Dutch manager was specifically pressed on the transfer strategy, he said: “I would like to sign English players because I think there is only one criterion and that’s quality in combination with the price.
“It looks like English players are quite expensive. It’s a fact you cannot deny. In the end, it’s about quality.”
Simplistically, Ten Hag is saying that he would like quality, but at a fair price in the market, and it currently doesn’t match up with English players as it could mean typically overpaying for them.
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In a trademark blunt manner, Ten Hag voiced his thoughts that English players being overpriced is “something you cannot deny.”
These comments could also hint at Manchester United being a little more cautious and measured in their approach, as it is also the first window for new director of football John Murtough, who may look to learn from previous mistakes made by Ed Woodward with regards to overpayment.
Ten Hag stating he would like to buy English players also sticks out as a salient remark as he may want players that are tried, tested and ready for the Premier League, as opposed to players who would have to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League.
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This is one clear advantage of signing Christian Eriksen as a seasoned Premier League player.
The fact that Ten Hag was open to address transfer links for the first time provides a clearer look at what Manchester United and the new manager are looking to do in his first window.
This will certainly help fans understand the reasoning behind why Ten Hag is targeting mainly Dutch football players, as a lot of the current ‘stars’ in football require a huge budget and commitment and may take extra time to blend into his style.
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The club are set to take on Crystal Palace on Tuesday in the side's third pre-season fixture of the summer.
Featured Image Credit: Manchester UnitedTopics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Frenkie De Jong, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Football, Transfers