Erik ten Hag’s position at Man Utd is being questioned by some
Manchester United were the latest team to fall victim to Newcastle United’s superior team spirit and tactical strategy at St James’ Park on Saturday night. While Eddie Howe’s side flaunted their attacking threat enough to flatter United with a scoreline as narrow as 1-0, Erik ten Hag’s were toothless.
Ten Hag has struggled to get a tune out of his forwards since his second season in charge commenced, heavily contributing to the Red Devils’ regression.
Before last Sunday’s 3-0 win at Everton – in which Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial found the net – only one of United’s league goals had come from an attacker.
None of Ten Hag’s attacking department has surpassed one Premier League strike from open play after 14 games.
As a result, that comfortable win at Goodison Park was the only one of United’s eight by more than a single goal.
It’s a stark contrast from last term, when Rashford netted a career-best 30 times, and United started the campaign with Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks.
Rasmus Hojlund is yet to find his feet domestically after his £72million switch from Atalanta, with all five of his goals coming in the Champions League.
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And Ten Hag is reportedly planning to address the lack of goals in the January transfer window, though he is working with a restricted budget.
According to Foot Mercato, United have made contact with Stuttgart over free-scoring Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy.
The 27-year-old is enjoying an incredible season, scoring 16 times in just nine Bundesliga starts to fire Stuttgart into third.
He is said to have a £15m release clause in his contract, making him an enticing target at the midway stage of the campaign. United aren’t alone in their interest, either.
Ten Hag watched his side come up with little attacking product until the closing stages on Tyneside, producing just 0.48 xG.
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At the same time, Guirassy recorded his 17th goal of the season in all competitions in Stuttgart’s 2-0 win against Werder Bremen.
Whether it comes in the form of Rashford rediscovering his confidence, Hojlund finding his feet, or fresh blood arriving this winter, United desperately need goals.
Guirassy’s goalscoring record prior to 2023/24 is a far cry from his current form, suggesting he would be another short-term striker fix if he were to land at Old Trafford.
But Ten Hag needs a rescue plan before his initially promising project spirals out of control, and he fits the bill.
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