In a recent press conference, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag discussed various topics ranging from the team’s upcoming FA Cup third-round tie against Wigan Athletic to the recent investment in the club by INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ten Hag described his meeting with Ratcliffe as “very positive,” noting that they spent many hours discussing various issues and found common ground on numerous points. He expressed optimism about the future collaboration following the INEOS investment, subject to regulatory approvals.
Regarding player availability, ten Hag is in talks with the Cameroon Federation about Andre Onana’s participation in the upcoming matches, given the proximity to Cameroon’s first game at the Africa Cup of Nations. He confirmed that Onana would be available for the game against Wigan but was uncertain about the Tottenham match.
The manager also provided updates on contract extensions. Manchester United has triggered the extensions for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, and Hannibal, while discussions are ongoing with Rapha Varane and Anthony Martial. He declined to elaborate further, citing these as internal discussions.
When asked about Jadon Sancho’s potential loan move to Borussia Dortmund, ten Hag stated that there was no news to share at the moment and preferred to wait until there were concrete developments.
In terms of changes following the INEOS investment, ten Hag believes it’s too early to speculate, as the new investors are still settling in. He mentioned that they have shared ideas and strategies, and there will be further collaboration to integrate these into the club’s operations.
Finally, on the injury front, ten Hag doesn’t expect any new additions to the squad for the game against Wigan, indicating that the team would be similar to the one that played against Nottingham Forest.
