Erik ten Hag’s propensity to buy his former players arguably led to Manchester United’s current financial doom but the coin could be about to land on the other side.
Since Erik ten Hag became Bayer Leverkusen’s manager, the noise around their links to Man Utd players have been incessant.
From Leverkusen’s links to Antony to potential interest in Alejandro Garnacho, the speculation has been rampant, especially since they’re about to be flush with cash courtesy of Florian Wirtz’s sale.
Now, it has been concretely revealed by Fabrizio Romano that one Man Utd ace is indeed Erik ten Hag’s ‘dream target’.
Kobbie Mainoo, Raphael Varane, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United walk out ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Erik ten Hag’s dream target at Bayer Leverkusen is Alejandro Garnacho
Ten Hag is about to receive €150 million from Liverpool, in addition to the fee they’ve already received for Jeremie Frimpong.
That is in addition to the saved wages for Jonathan Tah, who has joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer after some links to Man Utd.
As such, Ten Hag is allowed to dream big, which is exactly what he’s doing with his interest in Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho’s Man Utd story is over and the player is attracting interest from Premier League teams, but United might prefer to sell him outside of England.
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Romano reports that Ten Hag considers the Argentine who he gave his debut as a “dream target”, but the deal is “very complicated” despite the German side calling daily.
Romano said: “The priority of the player would be to stay in the Premier League. There is interest from Bayer Leverkusen. But despite the appreciation of Erik ten Hag, he considers Garnacho a dream target for, he’s too expensive.
“Also in terms of salary, not just salary. At the moment, Leverkusen looks an almost impossible solution for Garnacho. They called to be informed on the situation but it’s very complicated.”
Leverkusen’s stand could be negotiating tactics
Romano’s point about Leverkusen considering Garnacho ‘too expensive’ is an interesting one because of Wirtz’s sale leaving them flush with cash.
In a scenario like that, the team often tries to buy the replacement before selling and letting other teams know they are in possession of such a windfall.
Now that Leverkusen have failed to do this, they can still plead poverty but it is likely to fall on deaf ears, as looks like the case with Garnacho.
The Argentine is one of the only few sellable assets United have so they are justified in playing hardball for the player, regardless of what his priority is.
United will do the sale that benefits them the most since the relationship between Amorim and the player has completely broken down.
Spending at least half of Wirtz’s fee on their manager’s “dream target”, who is younger and similarly experienced in a top-five league should be a no-brainer for Leverkusen.
United have been taken advantage of for far too long, by other clubs, and players, their own and others alike. The cycle needs to break with Garnacho.