Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has claimed that incoming manager Erik ten Hag will struggle to convince players to join the club.
This, the German tactician believes, will be the case if Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea are also interested in the same players.
Ten Hag is understood to be planning a major overhaul of the current United squad. Rangnick himself said earlier in the month that as many as ten signings and departures could happen over the next two transfer windows.
Man United have struggled this season and are on the brink of mathematically missing out on the top four race and by extension, next season’s UEFA Champions League tournament. This could affect them in the coming seasons as they go after players who ten Hag sees as useful to his vision for the club.
Rangnick has advised the incoming manager to prepare to personally speak with all his targets to be able to convince them if Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel are also interested in them.
“As a club, with regards to supporters, stadium, quality of training ground, I would say yes [to top players joining the club in ten Hag’s regime].
“But we also have to be realistic. As soon as other clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are involved, then you need some good reasons and somebody needs to explain to the players.”
Rangnick stresses the need for personal connection with transfer targets
The former Red Bull Leipzig boss continued to stress the need for the club to make their scouting personal.
“That is why it is important what Erik thinks,” Rangnick continued. “I know from my time with Leipzig and Salzburg, and I also know it from Jurgen and from Thomas, if they want players they’re involved. They speak to the players and the same is probably true with Pep.
“They will invite the players themselves. It’s also about speaking to those players and finding out about their mentality and character, are they really players who are the best possible fit for this club.
“It is not only identifying those players but meeting them, convincing them to join the club even though we will not be playing in the Champions League. It is obvious the club needs quite a few new players. I already told you how I see that.
“For me it’s important the club identifies scouts and then recruits those kind of players to develop Manchester United into one of the top teams again and therefore you need mentality, quality, physicality, pace and skills. You need the full package.
“It’s obvious and I think this season showed that there are some problems that need to be solved and that need to be attacked and need to be settled.
“I am positive. Again, I have to say with Erik ten Hag Manchester United will have one of the best coaches that are available, probably one of the best coaches we have in Europe.
“Then it is about together with him, recruitment together with the way the team is being trained and coached, are the two most vital things.
“If those two things come together I am very positive the fans here at Old Trafford can see a better kind of team and a better kind of football.”
Rangnick tells ten Hag to go for future stars
Rangnick also suggested that United avoid established stats and focus on players with potential instead. He cited Erling Haaland as an example, stating that players like the Norwegian who were identified early should be at the forefront of their transfer strategy.
“My personal opinion is the club should try to find future top star players and develop them,” he added.
“Haaland is a young player, he is 21. This is one of those players I spoke about. But, on the other hand, he has developed into one of the most expensive strikers in the world.
“He could be one of those examples where I think the focus should be on to try and identify and find and then convince players who could be Manchester United players for the next couple of years.
“We just need to look into the other top clubs – the other top clubs in England and also in some other countries in Europe. What kind of players do and did they sign in the past, and then you get the answer yourself.”
