Soccer-Man United looking to sign a striker, says Ten Hag

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Liverpool – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – April 7, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag walks at half time REUTERS/Carl Recine/File Photo

(Reuters) – Manchester United need a new striker to help them out of their goalscoring troubles, manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth.

United scored 45 goals this season, the lowest among the top 10 teams in the standings.

Dane Rasmus Hojlund, 21, who was signed for around for 72 million pounds ($90 million) in August, netted 13 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions.

Anthony Martial scored twice this season and has been out injured since January. While the club had some help from Argentinian left winger Alejandro Garnacho, who scored nine goals in 41 appearances, Marcus Rashford, who had 30 goals last season, netted eight in 38 games.

Ten Hag had dismissed the possibility of signing a striker in the January transfer window, citing financial fair play rules but has now confirmed of the plans in close-season.

“I think it would help,” the Dutch manager told reporters on Friday. “You need more options. You need double positioning in every position.

“Some positions we didn’t have the choices this season – the striker position, the left-back position – and that has a negative impact on the results.

“We are working in the background on plans with the scouting. The plan is ready but we have to execute.”

The manager added that he is open to ideas from the club’s new ownership, hoping they would collaborate.

“I trust the new ownership that they will work as quick as possible and bring new good structures and that they can execute (the plans),” he added.

“But we have a way we want to play, so we know our profiles, it has to match the profiles we want.”

United are sixth in the league standings on 49 points with seven games remaining.

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(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)