- United’s manager said it’s harder to play for them than ‘almost any other team’
- It comes as flops Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho head for the exit door
- IAN LADYMAN: Premier League clubs are so wrapped up in their own self-interest. They want what suits them and that’s not FA Cup replays – It’s All Kicking Off
Erik ten Hag has issued a warning to Manchester United‘s transfer targets by saying it is easier to play for ‘almost any other team’.
The odd message came as Donny van de Beek ended his Old Trafford misery by securing a loan to German club Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Dutch midfielder, who cost United £35million when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed him from Ajax in September 2020, struggled to get much game time and was plagued by injuries.
Van de Beek started just six Premier League games for United and missed the second half of last season with a serious knee injury after a loan spell at Everton in 2022.
He was an integral part of Ten Hag’s successful Ajax side a few years back but now needs to resurrect his career in the Bundesliga.
Erik ten Hag has suggested it’s easier to play for ‘almost any other team’ than Man United
Donny van de Beek cost United £35million but struggled to make much impact for the club
United are also looking to offload £73million flop Jadon Sancho, who fell out with Ten Hag
That also applies to Jadon Sancho, the £73m United winger who is closing in on a loan move to Borussia Dortmund after falling out with Ten Hag.
Asked about whether players should think twice before moving to United, Ten Hag said: ‘That is always on those players and how much confidence you have in your capabilities.
‘But I can tell you one thing – the Premier League is tough. Man United, that is tough to play there because it’s more easy to play in almost any other team than Man United because the pressure is that high always.
‘You have to deal with that. But if you have that confidence in yourself, this is the best challenge and this is definitely the best club you want to be at as a player.
‘It depends on player to player, and it depends especially on the character of the player, their personality.’
Talking more specifically about Van de Beek, the United boss added: ‘From the first moment I can in here at Manchester United, he wasn’t the player he was at Ajax because he was injured.
‘So many times he was not available and then he struggled for a long time to recover from that injury.
‘That is probably the main reason why he was not playing. We decided for a loan in the summer but it didn’t come and then his opportunities are few because also we make appointments and we make agreements with players and contract players in that position. The competition was high.’
The Dutch manager and Van de Beek worked together at Ajax but the midfielder has only made 23 starts in three and a half years
Van de Beek has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan until the end of the season
Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has been named as a potential loan target
Another veteran forward, Bayern’s Thomas Muller, has also been linked with United
United, who head to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round on Monday night, aren’t expected to spend too much money during the January window because of Financial Fair Play constraints.
However, there have been suggestions they may look to sign another striker on loan to offer back-up for £72m summer arrival Rasmus Hojlund.
Bayern Munich players Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Muller have been linked, though another player in the frame, Timo Werner of RB Leipzig, is heading to Tottenham.
A more long-term target may be Stuttgart’s in-form forward Serhou Guirassy.
The former Chelsea striker Timo Werner was linked to United but is heading to Tottenham
Serhou Guirassy is in blistering form for Stuttgart, scoring 19 goals in 16 games this season
