Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager has been a roller coaster ride. The Dutchman has undoubtedly stabilized the ship, but there are still numerous issues to address.
Following a nine-game unbeaten streak, last Sunday’s Aston Villa defeat highlighted how the squad still needs to be rebuilt because there are so many chinks in the United armor.
Despite bringing in as many as six new recruits, there is a lot of scope for improvement. A lot has been spoken about the need to buy an elite striker as well as recruit a new right-back and a creative midfielder.
Fred under the scanner
Then there is the question of player contracts and cutting loose deadwood in the squad. One of the players whose contract is expiring next summer is Fred.
The Brazilian has been a bit-part player so far this campaign. He was terrible, to begin with, but did make an impact against Tottenham Hotspur.
But he is yet to become a regular and with the kind of football Ten Hag wants and the players United is targetting next summer, the Brazil international certainly does not seem to be a permanent fixture of the first XI.
His skill set does mean Fred will get his chances but is unlikely to displace the current duo of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen anytime soon.
United do have the option of triggering a one-year extension in Fred‘s contract to protect his value but Ten Hag has made it clear he wants players to earn their contract renewals.
Transfer expert Rudy Galetti has mentioned that renewing Fred‘s contract is not that straightforward and that there is a high chance that he might leave for a free next summer.
“The renewal of the contract is more and more complicated and he can say goodbye at the end of the season as a free agent,” Galetti tweeted.
The 29-year-old had become the fourth-most expensive signing back in 2018 when he signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial € 50 million but it is safe to say that he has not lived up to his enormous price tag.
He is currently valued at €20million according to Transfermarkt.
Another player who has fallen in the pecking order is club captain Harry Maguire. He was an automatic starter for former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But on the back of a terrible last season and a dismal beginning this term, Maguire has dropped to the fourth choice currently.
Maguire’s struggles
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are effectively first choices while Victor Lindelof seems to be ahead of the England man.
On top of this, the Dutch manager does not see Maguire as a left center-back, a position he has occupied since he started playing club football.
The former Leicester man has mostly played on the right side of the defense and that is likely to continue.
Galetti has now mentioned that there are European clubs keeping a tab on Maguire’s situation. “For the English center-back, some European clubs have asked for info,” was his tweet.
Given that the journalist is from Italy, the interest could be from Serie A. Many an English player has revived their career in Italy and former United defender Chris Smalling is the best example.
Smalling was considered too erratic for English football and his passing range was not good enough but he has since rebuilt his reputation in Rome.
It makes sense for clubs to be interested in Maguire who is technically quite good and has a good range of passing. He was bought for €80million but is currently valued at only €30million.
Ten Hag will take the final call but his history shows that he is not afraid to take big calls. Both players need to buck up or risk being shipped out.
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