Manchester United look set to focus on signing homegrown players as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos prepare for their first transfer window at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s future remains up in the air as the end of the season moves into focus.
United could yet end the season as FA Cup winners having just about advanced to the final against Manchester City.
Maybe a trophy win can save Ten Hag’s job after a frustrating and disappointing season.
That will be down to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos to work out as they make changes at Old Trafford.
We have already seen a new technical director arrive in Jason Wilcox whilst Omar Berrada is coming in as the club’s new CEO.
Ineos will be looking to totally change United’s fortunes and that will include revamping the club’s recruitment plans.
Manchester United want Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
United have got it wrong in the market on too many occasions and reports from earlier this season suggest that Ratcliffe wants to focus on landing homegrown players.
One of the names on the radar is Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Reports in March suggested that Ratcliffe had even told United to make a move to bring in Dewsbury-Hall.
Dewsbury-Hall is a boyhood United fan who grew up idolising Paul Scholes, so he could make something of a dream move this summer.
The 25-year-old has been sensational in the Championship this season, racking up 12 goals and 14 assists.
We can understand why Ratcliffe may like the look of Dewsbury-Hall and Leicester’s well-documented financial situation means a deal may well be possible.
However, Leicester won promotion over the weekend and then become Championship champions with a 3-0 win over Preston North End on Monday night.
Dewsbury-Hall becomes a champion
Dewsbury-Hall has come up through the Leicester ranks and achieving such a huge feat means a lot to him.
Speaking to Leicester’s official website, Dewsbury-Hall admitted that the moment was ‘so special’ as winning the title was the ‘dream’ for Leicester players at the start of the season.
Dewsbury-Hall added that winning the title was a ‘personal mission’ and he was desperate to get the club back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.
“It’s so, so special,” said Dewsbury-Hall. “You can hear by my voice. This was the dream. This was the goal at the start of the season – to be able to have this moment. To say that we’ve won the title. I always believed it and I knew that we could do it if we applied ourselves right. I feel so happy and so proud that the dream’s come true. I just can’t describe it, [the fans] deserve it, I’m so happy.”
“It was a personal mission, I’ll be honest. I wanted to get this Club back to where they belong. I’ve tried my absolute hardest to do that. The fact I can say that I’ve done it, I’m so, so happy. Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now. It’s the best feeling in the world. I grew up watching Leicester. To say that I can be on the pitch and they’re singing my song, sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is actually real. I’ve worked so hard and I’m so happy that I’m here and I can say that I’ve had moments like this.”
“Magical. A couple of the lads got together to watch the [QPR vs. Leeds] game. We weren’t expecting anything and, fair play to QPR, they played probably the best game they’ve played all season. To know that it was done then was such a relief. Of course, I’d have liked to have won with it with us playing ourselves, but the pressure was off us tonight. We’d already done it and, as you can see, we played with freedom and played really well. Now the title’s ours no matter what happens. We’ve got it!” he added.
This could go one of two ways for United.
Maybe Dewsbury-Hall has been so moved by the celebrations after winning the title that he wants to stay and create more great memories as a Leicester player.
Yet there is a chance that Dewsbury-Hall thinks that it’s better to go out on a high; achieve a ‘personal mission’ and then make a big move.
Dewsbury-Hall turns 26 in September and needs to consider whether such a huge move will come along for him again.
United should certainly still consider making an attempt to sign Dewsbury-Hall even after Leicester’s promotion and a dream move to Old Trafford may just be enough to tempt him away from the Foxes.