Man Utd transfer setback highlights Erik ten Hag’s major Nemanja Matic issue

 

Incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is already encountering major issues in the transfer market, but he must find a way to solve the club’s longstanding midfield issues.

Erik ten Hag is still weeks away from officially taking over at Old Trafford, but the new Manchester United manager is already encountering major obstacles in his bid to overhaul some of the club’s deep-rooted issues.

Ten Hag has already suffered a relatively major setback in the transfer market after The Daily Star revealed that four of the midfield targets highlighted by the Dutchman are set to be unattainable this summer. The club had earmarked the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to provide the quality that they have been sorely lacking in midfield.

It now seems highly unlikely that any of that quartet will be gracing the hallowed turf of Old Trafford next season. But Ten Hag is going to have to go back to the drawing board – because United have been in desperate need of a midfield anchor for some time.

Chelsea have Jorginho, Manchester City have Rodri and Fernandinho, Liverpool have both Thiago and Fabinho. But United, despite their leaky back line, have nobody capable of sitting in front of the defence and mopping up opposition chances. Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata have already confirmed that they are set to depart the club at the end of the season, while club-record signing Paul Pogba is poised to walk out on United for the second time.

Although United’s numbers in the engine room will be boosted by the return of loan stars James Garner and Donny van de Beek next year, neither of them are the type of midfielder that United lack. The club have desperately needed an upgrade on Matic – who failed to hit the heights he scaled previously at Chelsea – for years.

Unfortunately, it seems as though Ten Hag will have to pay the price for the negligence of others by addressing the issue in a tough market. It still defies belief that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after leading United to a second-placed finish last term, failed to amend the biggest issue in his squad last summer.