Erik ten Hag has begun plans to replace Cristiano Ronaldo after the icon announced that he wants to leave Manchester United, according to reports.
Last season, the Portuguese sensation produced a plethora of big performances. He bagged hattricks against Tottenham and Norwich, and saved the Red Devils from the depths of despair against Villarreal and Atalanta in the Champions League.
He bagged 24 goals in all competitions, and gave fans a much-needed sprinkling of magic. However, the Old Trafford legend has decided it is time to move on.
With his time at the top ticking away, the 37-year-old wants to spend the remainder of his career in the Champions League.
In addition, despite the instalment of Erik ten Hag as manager, the Manchester side isn’t going into the upcoming season with much momentum. They have still failed to secure a permanent signing in the transfer window. Consequently, Ronaldo has started looking for options elsewhere. As per the Sunday Times, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have shown great interest in the player.
However, all is not lost. A United source told the Daily Mirror: “Cristiano is not for sale. We want — and fully expect him to be with us next season.”
With ambition one of the critical reasons for Ronaldo’s decision, some considerable strides in the transfer market could potentially convince him to stay.
Erik ten Hag makes demands after Ronaldo transfer talk
According to the Daily Mirror, Erik ten Hag has set his sights on Ajax star Antony. The 52-year-old has long admired the Brazilian.
However, due to financial restraints, he’s not had the cash to bring him to The Theatre of Dreams. United don’t want to pay Ajax’s £70 million asking price.
However, with the club desperate for revival, the respected manager will ask the board to increase their budget and secure Antony’s signature. If Ronaldo were to leave, it would open up a huge void in the squad. But to fill it, he also wants to secure Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez and Feyenoord full-back Tyrell Malacia.
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