Erik ten Hag tells Manchester United board he needs more signings

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that the team "need more options" next season, with the Dutchman calling for additional new players to arrive at Old Trafford.

The 20-time English champions have already made three signings this summer, bringing in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.

Malacia has been involved in the club's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, while Eriksen and Martinez are in line to make their debuts in next weekend's friendlies with Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.

Man United continue to be linked with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, while Ajax attacker Antony is believed to still be a leading target for the club ahead of the new campaign.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's friendly with Aston Villa, Ten Hag has reiterated that the club need to further improve their squad in order to be competitive during the 2022-23 campaign.

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"We signed Eriksen for the midfield department, so we are really happy with that," Ten Hag told reporters. "And yes, I am really happy also with our performances of our midfield department and offensive department at this moment.

"But I also know about this season - we talk about it in Bangkok and Melbourne - it's a lot of games, the World Cup, so we need more options where you have a good team, and it's not only about the team, you need a good squad to get the right results at the end of the season.

"So we have to strengthen the squad even more and we are looking around but we also need the right players. There is a reason in a number of games you need more options in offence, clear. I think it's vital if you want to get success, the season is really long but we still also have time to fill that in.

"Back in Manchester Eriksen, Martinez will join in, we have more options, I think they can quite quickly integrate into the team."

Cristiano Ronaldo remains absent for the Red Devils, and the club are still unsure when he will return, with the attacker pushing for a move away from Old Trafford this summer.

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However, Anthony Martial has been in strong form for the club during pre-season, finding the back of the net on three occasions in three appearances.

The France international had been expected to leave Old Trafford this summer after an unsuccessful loan spell at Sevilla in the second half of last season, but the decision has allegedly been made for him to remain at Man United.

Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have also impressed during the club's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia, finding the back of the net on two occasions each.

"I hope we can convince them [the forwards] as they do a lot of work. A lot of running," Ten Hag told MUTV after his side's 3-1 success over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

"Often you see offensive players, they miss, that is what they think, in the offence, the energy. But you can see they put a lot of energy in defence and they get rewarded by scoring goals because we are winning balls high on the pitch.

"No opponent likes to get beat on the press, in the defending line. I think it's a big advantage to do that, but you need the whole team."

Man United are also expected to bring a new goalkeeper to the club before the end of the transfer window, having allowed Dean Henderson to make the move to Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.