Man Utd snubbed chance to sign “lazy and difficult” star now shining at the World Cup

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has previously stated that he requires assistance in the January transfer window if the club is to return to the top four.

The Dutchman has been challenged with rapidly getting the Red Devils back on track after inheriting a side that had its worst Premier League season in club history. And the early signs are promising.

Despite volatility off the field, United has remained consistent on it, finishing fifth heading into the World Cup break. However, the ambitious Ten Hag has warned those above him that unless they invest more in their playing personnel, their season may stall.

“In the front line, the availability of the players is an issue for us,” he stated last month. We had to play a few more games where we had to improvise in order to build a proper offensive line.

“If you can’t do that, it’s really difficult to break into the top four if you don’t have the personnel to put together a competent offensive line.”

That request came before Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious departure, which has only compounded the team’s lack of depth in attacking areas. United scouts have been scouring the globe in preparation for the January transfer window, with an eye on happenings in Qatar.

United still has a number of players competing in the latter stages, including Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, who are doing well for Portugal and England, respectively.

And, according to the Manchester Evening News, if things had gone differently during the summer transfer window, another World Cup star would already be in Ten Hag’s team. During a Q&A session, it was alleged that United was discouraged from signing a current international because he was “difficult and sluggish.”

While the individual’s identity remains unknown, the MEN claims that the same athlete is now working ‘like a fiend’ for his national team. Should United return for him after the World Cup, they will pay a large premium, as is customary with any form of shopping around a major tournament.

Ten Hag will be waiting for approval from the club’s board of directors to determine whether he will be handed the necessary monies. Above the manager, there is uncertainty at Old Trafford following the Glazer family’s announcement that they were willing to abandon their ownership of the club.

The Americans have been at United since 2005, but they declared last month that they were going through “a process to examine strategic alternatives for the club.”

On Thursday, it was revealed that the family will not receive a dividend payment, the first time in six years, as part of their first-quarter fiscal results, which showed a 13.6% increase in overall revenue.

The decision not to accept the cash was made in response to the enormous summer expenditure, which saw Ten Hag bankrolled to the tune of more than £200 million.