Erik Ten Hag Risks Man Utd Transfer Promise To Sign Mohammed Kudus From Ajax

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is reportedly set to renege on his ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ to sign Ajax star Mohammed Kudus in the summer after identifying the midfielder as a key target, according to reports.

Ten Hag was appointed at Old Trafford last summer after departing Ajax, and signed two players from his former club in his first transfer window.

According to the Times, Ten Hag had a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ with the Dutch club that he would not ‘gut the team’ upon arriving at Old Trafford.

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Centre-back Lisandro Martinez and Antony both arrived at Old Trafford in the summer, with the former, in particular, having a significant impact on the club’s fortunes.

Antony, meanwhile, has shown glimpses of his star talent with six goals in all competitions, and at 22, has plenty of time ahead of him to become a United great.

Those signings have served the club well so far, and they helped United to Carabao Cup success – their first trophy of the Ten Hag era.

They beat Newcastle 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday to lift the trophy, with both Martinez and Antony starting. Casemiro and Wout Weghorst – two other Ten Hag signings – also started the game.

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Now, it appears that the Dutch boss is turning his attention to a third Ajax player ahead of this summer.

Man Utd ‘keen on Ajax star Kudus’

According to the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag has identified two key positions that he wants to strengthen this summer – and wants to bring Kudus to Old Trafford.

An attacking midfielder, the 22-year-old Ghana international has scored nine goals in 22 Eredivisie appearances this term.

He also netted on four occasions in six Champions League group stage games, and represented Ghana in both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup in 2022.

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His club and international team-mate, former Rangers star Calvin Bassey, described Kudus as a ‘star boy on fire’ after he scored twice for Ghana during their 3-2 win over South Korea in the World Cup group stages.

The MEN claim that Ten Hag sees Kudus as a player that can develop into a Premier League star, and he is said to be part of a six-player transfer shortlist.

Kudus could go on to offer the goal threat that legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes the club desperately need.

Speaking after the Carabao Cup final, Ferguson told Sky Sports: “[Marcus Rashford] is in a great vein of form. Unfortunately for us, he is the main source of goals. We could do with another one, but he’s doing it.”