You feel these coming months are huge for Erik ten Hag and his future at Manchester United.
The former Ajax coach suffered yet another damaging defeat on Sunday, this time at the hands of Pep Guardiola in the Manchester derby.
Whilst many debate whether he is good enough to take the club to the next step, it can’t be argued that he has done well bringing forward the young players, such as Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.
Well, Ian Wright thinks Manchester United needs to continue that young theme and he feels they ‘need’ a player like Everton’s thriving centre-back, Jarrad Branthwaite, as he told Premier League Productions (04/03/24 at 2:20 pm).
Amid Everton’s struggles this season and points deduction, which has resulted in yet another relegation battle, one man who has remained calm at the back has been Jarrad Branthwaite.
The 21-year-old has performed so well that many are calling for the youngster to earn a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, sources have told HITC Football that the Toffees might be forced to sell their prized asset in the summer, with Manchester United keen.
And, ‘for the next 10 years’, this is the type of player Ian Wright feels is needed at Old Trafford, to build the club’s spine.
Jarrad Branthwaite at Manchester United
“When you look at Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund, what you want to see from the recruitment now is, from the defensive side,” said Wright.
“It seems to me they can get that spine sorted, with two really good young centre-halves that have got at least ten years quality.
“I am not saying to go and get Branthwaite at Everton, but that’s what you need, that kind of calibre of player coming through now at Man United, so you can get that spine sorted.
“And if it’s going to be ten Hag, then he can get in the kind of players that is going to fit into what that team can be structured like. There is a lot of work to be done, it is going to come down to recruitment as well. They are going to have to recruit so much better than they have done.”
Manchester United’s spending under Erik ten Hag
The footballing structure at Manchester United is starting to change and big calls are being made, with new faces coming up.
These people, from Jim Ratcliffe to Dave Brailsford, need to make that call as to whether ten Hag is their man or not.
If not, you suspect he will be gone in the summer, if he is, then they should back him all the way, even if several of his signings haven’t worked out.
That’s the issue facing the Dutchman, with the Antony signing the biggest issue, so these next few months are going to be interesting.
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