Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly willing to go all out to sign RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda in 2024 as he claimed to be obsessed with bringing the Belgian to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have struggled all over the park this season, and the lack of goals is a worrying aspect of their poor performances so far. In fact, Manchester United have scored just nine goals in eight Premier League games, and only seven teams have scored fewer. date.
And while summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has quickly adapted to his new scenario, Marcus Rashford’s loss of form in front of goal, as well as his entourage’s ongoing struggles in attack, continue to bother the United manager.
In fact, Martial and Rashford have just one goal each so far, a worrying statistic that has made midfielder Casemiro their unlikely best goalscorer so far.
Martial’s contract at Old Trafford is set to expire at the end of the season anyway, and there are indications that his time at Old Trafford is coming to an end. To that end, a report published earlier this week suggested that Ten Hag is willing to risk losing. Martial looked relaxed as the Red Devils boss deliberated on whether to offer him a new deal.
However, in reality, Martial has rarely managed to bring his best game to Manchester United, and the player is considered a dying force through Ten Hag. Now in his ninth season at Old Trafford, Martial has managed to break the 20-goal barrier. -Barrier per season once, and that last happened in the 2019/20 campaign.
READ MORE: Mbappe, Rabiot and best players out of contract at the end of the 2023-24 season
As a result, it’s no surprise to see Ten Hag scouring the market for potential replacements.
Indeed, despite spending up to £72m to bring in Hojlund over the summer, Ten Hag is now preparing another big spend for the more sensible striker in 2024.
To that end, reports in Spain claim that Ten Hag is in a position to make Leipzig sensation Openda his number one target for upgrading Martial.
The Belgian striker joined the Bundesliga in the summer, for a €46 million (£40 million) fee from Lens.
However, he started his Leipzig career in great form, scoring five goals in 10 games, adding 4 in six Bundesliga games. He also has two assists to his name, meaning Openda has contributed to a goal in every 1. 4 appearances so far.
However, his stay at the Red Bull Arena may prove short-lived if Ten Hag has his way.
And the 20-time English champions are reportedly keen to back the Dutchman with big cash to bring Openda to Old Trafford.
In fact, Ten Hag is reportedly “obsessed” with signing the 23-year-old to upgrade Martial and is willing to pay up to €90m (£78m) to sign his man. The payment would allow Leipzig to almost double their initial investment in the player in less than a year.
However, Ten Hag is said to regard the value as cash well spent and is keen to make Openda one of his main targets in the coming windows.
United are also looking for a new centre-back next year, hoping to get rid of Harry Maguire first and amid accusations that a move to West Ham could be revived in January.
EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United star Amad Diallo sought after in Sunderland as Ten Hag makes big decision