Manchester United Transfer News Roundup: Red Devils backed to sack Erik ten Hag; Fenerbahce eyeing Antony, and more - September 5, 2024
Manchester United are in a tight spot following an underwhelming start to the new season. The Red Devils have lost three of their opening four games across competitions, including defeats to bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
Meanwhile, the Premier League giants have been backed to part ways with manager Erik ten Hag. Elsewhere, attacker Antony is wanted in Turkey.
On that note, here's a look at the key Manchester United transfer stories as on September 5, 2024:
Manchester United backed to sack Erik ten Hag
Former agent Jon Smith has backed Manchester United to sack Erik ten Hag unless results improve. The Dutch manager is under added pressure at Old Trafford after a disastrous start to the new season.
The Red Devils invested heavily in the squad over the summer but opted to keep their faith in Ten Hag. The Dutchman is yet to repay that trust this season and could be running out of time to save his job.
In his column for Caught Offside, Smith pointed out that players like Casemiro and Marcus Rashford have regressed under Ten Hag.
“The pressure is always on when you’re Manchester United, and it’s more on the manager than it is on the ownership at this moment in time. That’s because the ownership were perceived to have done the right thing by keeping him in place," wrote Smith.
He continued:
“What I don’t understand is players, for example Casemiro… he was amazing when he first joined the club but what’s happened to him?
"Why has everything gone so far south? I just don’t understand what’s going on United. They’ve got a team of really good players, and it’s just not happening for them. Even Rashford, the eternal servant, just doesn’t look the part anymore."
He concluded:
“So I’m kind of sticking my neck out really, but unless things turn around fairly quickly, there must be a Plan B – and the Plan B would would be to replace ten Hag. It’s kind of more of the same at the moment.”
Rashford has been a shadow of his former self since the start of last season.
Fenerbahce eyeing Antony
Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for Antony in the coming days, according to Fotomac. The Brazilian forward has been a disappointment since joining Manchester United from Ajax in the summer of 2022.
The Red Devils paid £86 million for the 24-year-old, who reportedly earns £200,000 per week at Old Trafford. However, he's no longer a first-team regular under Ten Hag, with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo deployed ahead of him on the right wing.
Manchester United remain open to his departure and are reportedly in talks with the Turkish club to script a loan deal. New Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho apparently believes that he can get the best out of Antony and is willing to bet on the Brazilian.
Casemiro wants to stay
Casemiro has no plans to leave Manchester United at the moment, according to The Daily Mail. The Brazilian midfielder has displayed signs of regression in recent times.
Following an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign, the Red Devils opted to bring in Manuel Ugarte over the summer to replace Casemiro. The 32-year-old has struggled to impress this season as well and was particularly poor against Liverpool.
Recent reports have suggested that the Premier League giants are in talks with Galatasaray regarding the Brazilian's temporary exit. Casemiro is one of the highest earners at Manchester United, and the club are eager to remove his wages from their books.
However, it appears that the Brazilian is determined to stay at Old Trafford and prove his naysayers wrong.