Erik ten Hag gives transfer update on three Man Utd players and assesses window so far

Erik ten Hag has said he does not expect Manchester United defenders Axel Tuanzebe, Phil Jones and Brandon Williams to leave the club this summer.

The trio have not featured at all since Ten Hag was appointed manager and it has been widely reported the trio are free to leave the club.

However, speaking on Friday ahead of this weekend’s trip to Southampton, the United manager said they will remain with the Red Devils due to all three having injuries, although did seem to imply they could be free to leave in the future.

"It can be [that they leave] but, who you are talking about, they are, in this moment, not available. So I don’t think they will go out in this window,” Ten Hag explained.

Tuanzebe and Williams missed all of pre-season and the first three Premier League games of the campaign due to injuries, with both spending the 2021/22 campaign out on loan.

As for Jones, he contines to work on a bespoke training regime away from the rest of the first-team squad. United’s No.4 has suffered from long-term injuries over recent years, but did come back into the team last season and made five senior appearances under Ralf Rangnick.

Elsewhere, Ten Hag was also asked about incomings so far this window and the former Ajax manager said it’s ‘clear’ they need further recruits through the door.

The Red Devils have signed four players this summer: Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.

However a fifth may not be far away, with the Red Devils submitting a bid for Brazilian winger Antony, ManchesterWorld understands.

Despite the criticisms of United’s transfer policy over the past few months, Ten Hag said he is pleased with the business they’ve concluded so far.

"I don’t know [if it will be a busy end to the market], but we said we need players. [It’s] clear, but we need the right players,” he opined.

“That is what we’ve said the whole transfer window and we are happy [with] what we have done until now. But the barrier has to be high."