Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to sign striker as Premier League star emerges as top target - Reports

Manchester United are reportedly planning a move for yet another striker this summer. The reports have emerged following a recent injury to the Red Devils' No. 9, Rasmus Hojlund.

As per a report in the Daily Telegraph (via X/mufcMPB), Erik ten Hag now wants to sign a new and experienced striker and Brentford striker Ivan Toney has emerged as a top target. The Red Devils signed Joshua Zirkzee this summer from Bologna, but he is believed to be a replacement for Anthony Martial, who left this summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Toney has been linked with the club after Hojlund was ruled out for up to six weeks due to the injury he picked during the pre-season friendly against Arsenal.

Brentford were reportedly open to selling the forward this summer but have now changed their plans. Their new signing, attacker Igor Thiago has picked up an injury and is set to be on the sidelines until late 2024.

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were also linked with Toney this summer but are yet to make an official move for the Brentford star.

Manchester United urged to sign Premier League stars

Paul Ince claimed earlier this year that Manchester United needed to sign players for the starting XI. He felt the Red Devils were lacking squad depth and suggested they sign Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney.

He told Ladbrokes (via The Sun):

"They've got to strengthen a lot this summer. When you look at a team before pre-season starts, and you start identifying where you might want to strengthen, you don't want to make wholesale changes. You know, you want to keep the core of the team. But when you look at Manchester United, they need at least seven players, arguably in the starting XI."

"Raphael Varane is gone now, Lisandro Martinez has been injured pretty much all season, so there's an issue there; can he compete for 40 or more games per season? We've got Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who we're trying to sell. Luke Shaw has spent a lot of time out. Casemiro is going to move on, and we still haven't found that holding number six," Ince added.

"Antony hasn't been performing, so do you get someone in to replace him? Marcus Rashford hasn't been at his best, and Rasmus Hojlund is still a young striker. That's so many areas of the pitch you would say need improving. I think that's what we need to get; a top, top striker, like an Ollie Watkins, like an Ivan Toney," he concluded.

Manchester United have so far signed Joshua Zirkzee and central defender Lery Yoro this summer. They have also reportedly agreed on a deal to bring in full-back Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich (via Fabrizio Romano).