Erik ten Hag, the head coach of Ajax, has set his sights on two high-profile midfielders, Declan Rice and Frenkie de Jong, for the upcoming transfer window. However, his plans have been hampered by a prolonged takeover saga, which has severely limited the club’s financial resources and subjected them to the constraints of Financial Fair Play regulations. Despite these challenges, Ten Hag is determined to strengthen his team’s midfield, and he has turned his attention to Sofyan Amrabat as a potential solution.
Amrabat, a talented 26-year-old Moroccan player, is currently represented by CAA Stellar, a prominent agency in the UK with a strong presence in Premier League dealings. With just one year remaining on his contract with an Italian Serie A club, Amrabat could be available for a reasonable fee of around £20 million. While it may seem unlikely, there is a glimmer of possibility that Amrabat could consider a move to Saudi Arabia, a prospect that the Pro League is reportedly evaluating.
The anticipated takeover by Sheikh Jassim, which was expected to transpire earlier this year, could have significantly transformed the financial landscape for Manchester United. If the takeover had materialized, it would have cleared the club’s debt burden and provided Ten Hag with an additional £40-£50 million to bolster his transfer budget. As things stand, the manager currently has around £150 million at his disposal. A considerable portion of this budget has already been allocated to the acquisition of Mason Mount from Chelsea for a hefty £60 million. Additionally, a deal to bring Andre Onana from Inter for approximately £50 million is nearing its finalization.
Pursuit of Rasmus Hojlund and Limited Flexibility in Transfers
In a bid to further strengthen the squad, Manchester United is actively pursuing the services of Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta. Negotiations between the two clubs are underway to reach an agreement on a reasonable transfer fee for the talented Danish attacker. Personal terms have already been agreed upon between Hojlund and Man Utd. However, if a deal fails to materialize in the coming weeks, there are indications that the young player may take matters into his own hands and submit an official transfer request to his current club. Should this situation arise, Hojlund’s arrival would mark the club’s third signing of the window, leaving limited room for additional acquisitions. However, there is a possibility that the sale of Fred during this transfer window could generate the necessary funds to secure Sofyan Amrabat’s signature.
Despite the financial constraints, Ten Hag remains determined to add another forward to his squad. The prospect of bringing in Harry Kane has been mentioned, although any potential deal is unlikely to come to fruition in the immediate future. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich is quietly monitoring the situation and has shown interest in acquiring the services of the talented England captain.
Manchester United’s Strategic Sales Approach and Potential Departures
Looking ahead, Manchester United is strategically planning a significant sales push in the upcoming year. The club has identified key players, including Harry Maguire, Fred, and Anthony Martial, as individuals who could potentially be offloaded to create room for new signings and optimize the squad’s composition. This proactive reshuffling of the squad would not only generate additional resources but also provide flexibility for future transfers and squad development.
Manchester United, operating within a limited budget, is also actively pursuing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta, while keeping the possibility of signing Amrabat alive through potential sales. The club’s quest for another forward, potentially including Harry Kane, remains uncertain. Looking forward, Manchester United’s strategic sales approach aims to offload players like Harry Maguire, Fred, Anthony Martial, and others to create opportunities for new signings and optimize their squad for future endeavors.
