Ten Hag Calls Champions League Midfielder To Convince Him To Join United

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag before the match in the Champions League.

Reuters/Lee Smith

Manchester United’s scramble to bring in a new midfielder in the remaining days of the summer window has led to Erik ten Hag taking matters into his own hands.

The Dutchman’s priority midfield target Frenkie de Jong is still in Barcelona – more than two months after John Murtough, United’s director of football, opened talks to sign him.

United continue to wait for the Netherlands international, but simultaneously have started approaching other midfielders.

Adrien Rabiot is another midfielder who has been high on United’s transfer list all summer. Juventus, who recently acquired Paul Pogba on a free transfer following his Old Trafford exit, are open to sanction the former PSG star’s exit.

Despite his underwhelming spell in Serie A, Rabiot is appreciated by Ten Hag.

As per ESPN’s Julien Laurens, direct contact between United and Rabiot’s agent, his mother, Veronique Rabiot is yet to be established, but the Dutch coach spoke to the Juventus man on the phone on Monday. The first conversation between the duo was ‘a good one’.

Ten Hag is keen to sign the Frenchman and believes he will improve the midfield, which was easily outclassed by Brighton and Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the Premier League.

The 27-year-old has the talent to perform on the biggest of the stages, and has shown his ability in the Champions League on multiple occasions.