Erik ten Hag agents left furious by Man Utd treatment as behind-scenes issues grow at club

Erik ten Hag’s entourage are reportedly fuming at the nature of his first summer as Manchester United boss. The Dutchman’s camp supposedly feel that he has been let down badly in the transfer market and forced to put on a brave face with club hero Cristiano Ronaldo battling to leave behind the scenes. 

It didn’t take long for reports to emerge indicating that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong was made Ten Hag’s top target after taking control at Old Trafford. The pair previously worked together at Ajax and despite a £72million agreement being in place for weeks, they have struggled to haul the deal over the line. 

The new boss is also being forced to scour the transfer market for new attacking players after Cristiano Ronaldo asked to leave the Red Devils last month. Ten Hag publicly maintains that his chats with the Portuguese have been positive, but talks to try and change Ronaldo’s mind over the past few weeks have supposedly failed to change his mind. 

According to The Mirror, Ten Hag’s advisors are furious at the way his first summer at the club has unfolded. The 52-year-old is believed to have handed transfer chief John Murtough a five-man wish list, but only three new faces are in the squad with less than three weeks left in the window. 

JUST IN: Arsenal given green light for Yeremy Pino transfer by Unai Emery – ‘Will have to leave’

Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia were signed from Ajax, Brentford and Feyenoord respectively but none of the trio could make a telling impact against Brighton on the opening weekend, as the Red Devils stuttered to a humiliating 2-1 defeat. 

A host of players left Old Trafford at the end of last season including Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani. That shed a huge chunk of the wage bill, but Ten Hag is still waiting for his marquee midfield signing. 

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd target wants move, Fofana to Chelsea close

Rangy Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic remains one of the club’s realistic striker targets, although former United boss Ralf Rangnick has subtly advised the 6ft 7in star against moving to Old Trafford. 

“It is important that Sasa stays injury-free this season and trains and plays at the highest possible level,” he told Sky Austria. “If he stays in Stuttgart this season, it will not be a disadvantage for his development.”