Erik ten Hag has revealed Manchester United blocked his attempts to sign Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Frenkie de Jong, while Michael Carrick faces mounting pressure ahead of the Champions League clash with Como.
Ten Hag reveals transfer frustrations
Speaking to The Athletic, Ten Hag said he was denied the 'outstanding' players he wanted during his tenure at Old Trafford. The list includes England duo Declan Rice and Harry Kane, who both commanded hefty transfer fees in 2023, alongside Barcelona and Netherlands star Frenkie de Jong.
Kane moved to Bayern Munich for a deal that could rise to £104m with add-ons, but Ten Hag said he could have been persuaded to stay in the Premier League. "I said to them [the United board], 'I want only one player - and you know who'," Ten Hag revealed. "I fought for it. I heard that he was very positive, but I never spoke with him about the issue."
Regarding Rice, who ultimately departed West Ham for Arsenal in a Premier League record £105m deal, he commented: "The issue was that West Ham didn't want to let him go. I think we could have done more to test. We were on one page, they tried, but I don't know how the process went. The point is, at United you need outstanding players."
Carrick under pressure
Carrick is in desperate need of a win against Como on Wednesday evening to halt talk of him being sacked. A weekend draw with Leeds United has left United slumped in 13th in the Premier League table, and they haven't tasted victory since their Champions League curtain-raiser against Azerbaijan minnows Sabah over a month ago, managing just a solitary win from seven league matches.
United close out the month with league clashes against Bournemouth and Chelsea. While speculation grows around potential replacements, Alan Shearer has placed Fabian Hurzeler at the top of his shortlist of three potential successors, reports the Mirror.
Shearer backs Hurzeler
"If Carrick is relieved of his duties, Hurzeler would be a good replacement, but it's a very different model at Brighton," Shearer told Betfair. "I guess the manager you'd also look at is Eddie Howe. You'd look at Antonio Conte as well, but you know, whether you like it or not, that's what happens when you're not winning football matches and when you're at one of the biggest clubs in the world so you have to accept that, and I'm pretty sure he does."
Shearer made these remarks ahead of the weekend's fixtures, which saw United held to a draw at Leeds while Hurzeler's Brighton put five goals past Crystal Palace. The Seagulls have also triumphed in four of their six encounters with United since Hurzeler arrived in 2024, including a dramatic Carabao Cup comeback triumph in September, and earlier this month they hammered champions Arsenal 3-0.
