Manchester United arrive in the United States on Thursday as preparations for the new season step up and manager Erik ten Hag works to build on a successful first campaign in charge. After winning the Carabao Cup and securing a return to the UEFA Champions League in his first year at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has added Mason Mount to his squad, while goalkeeper Andre Onana is set to follow from Inter Milan.
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It’s the next stage of his rebuild that he will hope gets United nearer to challenging Manchester City at the top of the table. Despite progress in the transfer market, Ten Hag will land in New York — ahead of games against Arsenal in New Jersey, Wrexham in San Diego, Real Madrid in Houston and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas — with issues to solve while he’s in the United States.
Here’s a look at the big questions facing the United manager while on preseason tour.
Sign a striker
It was Ten Hag’s priority this summer and it’s still not happened, although he will be happy the club have brought in Mount and Onana early in the window. United didn’t score enough goals last season — their 58 in the Premier League was only seven more than relegated Leicester City — and signing a No. 9 would make a big difference to the squad. Established goal scorers like Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have, so far, been out of reach and so the recruitment department are looking at other options such as Rasmus Hojlund, Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos.
