Erik ten Hag explains why Sofyan Amrabat transfer will be so key to Man Utd’s season

Erik ten Hag has said Sofyan Amrabat will bring qualities to the Manchester United squad that were previously lacking.

The Moroccan arrived from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day in a €10m (£8.85m) loan move, with an option to buy at the end of the season. Amrabat, one of four arrivals in the final hours of the market, wasn’t registered in time to feature in United’s trip to Arsenal on Sunday, which the visitors lost 3-1.

Ten Hag fielded questions on the 27-year-old in Friday’s press conference, before his move was confirmed, but hadn’t spoken about Amrabat since his arrival. Asked about the impact of his addition to the squad, the United boss said it gives his squad an option they didn’t possess last season.

“I’m very pleased,” explained Ten Hag. “From the start of the season, it was one of my wishes to get another no.6, another holding midfielder in the squad because in the season you need that depth there in that position.

“We only had Casemiro that can play really good there. Others we have to make compromises. In Sofyan Amrabat we have another one. Also he can play alongside Casemiro because he can play a little bit higher on the pitch, so that’s very good to have him and he fits very good to Premier League football and Champions League football.

“He is strong, he is very dynamic and very good in the duels. We are pleased we have him in Man United and I think he will contribute to the high targets we set at Man United.”

Asked whether he was frustrated the transfer hadn’t been completed in time for Sunday’s game against Arsenal, Ten Hag replied: “No, sometimes you have to wait for the right timing.”

United were beaten by two injury-time goals in North London, with Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus netting just minutes after Alejandro Garnacho thought he’d won the match for the Red Devils, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside. In the first half, Marcus Rashford scored United’s only goal of the match, but Martin Odegaard netted just 109 seconds later.