says he looked into signing a striker during the January transfer window, but Financial Fair Play would not allow it, with having to deal with a ‘gap in the squad’ as a result.
The Red Devils have been very short of goals this season, with just 24 scored in 21 games, the same amount Town have scored in 20 matches.
Marcus Rashford has scored four of those league goals, while summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has managed two and Alejandro Garnacho three.
That appears to be Ten Hag’s first choice front three now, with Antony falling down the pecking order having failed to score all season.
, the Manchester United manager does not have many goal-scoring options and admits he would like to have signed a new forward this month.
However, it is not an option and says he will make do with either Hojlund or Rashford playing in the central striker role.
‘I looked but there is no space,’ Ten Hag told a press conference on Friday. ‘There is no space for FFP to do something about this lack of quantity in the striker position.
‘Of course, Rashford can play as a striker; we have some other alternatives and it’s clear that Anthony is out for a couple of months it’s a gap in our squad, clear.’
There may not be a new striker incoming, but Ten Hag says the new arrivals in the forms of Jim Ratcliffe, Dave Brailsford and their INEOS team have helped boost the club.
‘It gives spirit in this whole club, everyone notices this club is going into a period of changes and it’s because we want to achieve high targets, standards have to change, we started with this one-and-a-half year ago,’ he said.
‘I’m sure Ineos and me are very aligned on this, we understand we have to change, we started that process last season with the dressing room but also many departments. I am very happy to raise the standards, to collaborate more and Ineos can have a big impact on that.’
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