STRIKER LIGHT
Erik requires more up front if Reds are to hold their own against rivals
ERIK TEN HAG has warned Manchester United need more firepower if they are to have any chance of competing with their rivals next season.
The Dutchman admitted his squad is not strong enough up front, with the former Ajax boss still keen on signing £70million-rated Antony from the Amsterdam club.
With Cristiano Ronaldo absent for family reasons and his future uncertain after he made it known he wants to leave, ten Hag is adamant United need another striker.
He believes Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Manchester City all have an advantage over United, having already made the bulk of their summer signings. Asked if he was concerned about a shortage of options in attack, ten Hag said: “That’s a reason – you need more options in offence.
“It’s vital if you want to get success, because the season is really long. We still have time to fill that in.
“It’s definitely an advantage we could have all of the new signings on tour.
“But we’re not in that situation, so you have to deal with that situation, you have to develop the team with the players you have. That’s what we’ll do.
“When we’re back in Manchester, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez will join in, and they can quite quickly integrate into the team. We signed Eriksen for the midfield, we’re really happy with that, and I’m happy with the performance of the midfield and offence at the moment.
“But I also know this season we have a lot of games, as well as the World Cup, so we need more options. We have a good team, but we need a good squad to get the right results at the end of the season.”
One of Antony’s representatives, Junior Pedroso, is understood to have been in Manchester this week, suggesting United may be closing on a deal.