MANCHESTER UNITED CONTINUE TO BE LINKED WITH POTENTIAL SIGNINGS THIS SUMMER WITH ERIK TEN HAG NOW SET TO STAY AT OLD TRAFFORD.
The Dutchman is now staying put at Old Trafford and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing second season in charge.
Ten Hag knows that he can’t afford a repeat of this past season, even with Ineos putting their faith in him.Improvements are needed and United are looking to make signings across the pitch this summer.Centre back Jarrad Branthwaite, midfielder Manuel Ugarte and striker Joshua Zirkzee are all emerging as key targets for United.
Manchester United want Ademola Lookman
Another name in the frame is Ademola Lookman.
The former Everton and Charlton Athletic forward hit the headlines with a stunning hat-trick to hand Atalanta Europa League glory against Bayer Leverkusen.Lookman produced a range of stunning finishes to secure a sensational hat-trick and bring a major trophy back to Bergamo.
It’s now no surprise that Lookman is attracting interest from Premier League clubs and United are in the mix.
Calciomercato claim that United have joined Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to sign Lookman this summer.
However, Atalanta are demanding huge money for Lookman.
It’s suggested that Atalanta now want €60million (£51million) for Lookman, which may not even be enough to fend off the interested club.
The report claims that the interested English clubs are ready to offer close to that £51million demand in an attempt to convince Atalanta selling.
We would be stunned to see United pay that kind of money for Lookman, a player who has previously blown hot and cold in the Premier League.
Rasmus Hojlund on Lookman
United have dealt with Atalanta in recent times though and Rasmus Hojlund could hold the key here.
Hojlund joined United in a big-money move last summer and enjoyed a promising first season at Old Trafford.
United will be looking to help Hojlund continue his development moving forward and he would seemingly love to play with Lookman again.
The pair featured prominently together with Atalanta and Hojlund told TLN in 2023 that he and Lookman really complement each other in the final third.
“Me and Ademola Lookman – I think we compensate each other well, he is good at dribbling and I’m more the hold-up 9, you can say, so yeah this is why we have a good understanding for each other,” said Hojlund.
The Dane would surely love to link up with Lookman again having forged a strong connection together in Italy.
Lookman has versatility to play up front or out wide whilst also being a homegrown player in England, so there are some appealing factors.
We think a move for Zirkzee makes more sense though and would be surprised to see Lookman arrive at Old Trafford – especially if the price is around £50million. It looks like Manchester United is actively pursuing multiple transfer targets to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. Erik ten Hag will be keen to improve the team’s performance after a challenging second season.
1. **Jarrad Branthwaite**: The young centre back could bolster United’s defensive options.
2. **Manuel Ugarte**: Adding a midfielder like Ugarte could provide the team with more stability and creativity in the middle of the park.
3. **Joshua Zirkzee**: A striker to increase competition and depth up front.
**Ademola Lookman** is another key target, especially after his impressive performances for Atalanta, including a hat-trick in the Europa League final. His versatility and homegrown status are appealing, although Atalanta’s high asking price of €60 million (£51 million) might be a sticking point.
**Rasmus Hojlund**’s positive experience with Lookman at Atalanta could be a factor in the decision-making process, as they have demonstrated a strong understanding on the pitch. However, some believe that pursuing Zirkzee might be a more sensible move, considering the potential cost involved in signing Lookman.
It will be interesting to see how these potential signings unfold and how they might shape Manchester United’s squad for the next season.
