Erik ten Hag could be set to unleash Manuel Ugarte. (Image: Getty)
Erik ten Hag is ready to fast-track Manuel Ugarte into the forefront of his plans after aiming to slowly bed him in at Manchester United, according to reports. The Dutchman desperately needs results after the October international break, so he is set to put faith in his £51million summer signing to adapt quickly.
Ten Hag is on the brink at Old Trafford after overseeing just seven wins across his last 30 games in the Premier League and Europe.
Having won just two of their opening seven fixtures, United are slumped in 14th with just eight points after seven matches, the club’s worst tally in the Premier League era.
Noussair Mazraoui has made an encouraging start to life in England, while Leny Yoro has yet to feature due to an injury suffered in pre-season.
But Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Ugarte’s slow starts as they adapt at United have contributed to Ten Hag’s early-season struggles.
Ugarte was the last of the Red Devils’ five new arrivals in the summer, signing a five-year contract in a £51m deal from Paris Saint-Germain.
He has endured a shaky first six weeks in M16, though, only starting three games so far this term – against Barnsley, FC Twente and Tottenham.
Since starting the 3-0 defeat to Spurs, Ugarte was an unused substitute in the draws at FC Porto and Aston Villa.
Manuel Ugarte has only started three games for Man Utd. (Image: Getty)
Many supporters have shared concerns about whether United have produced another big-money blunder in the transfer market.
But Ten Hag is said to be prepared to throw Ugarte into the deep end in a bid to see an uprise in results.
According to GiveMeSport, one of the United boss’ main priorities before the November international break is fully integrating the Uruguay international from his bench role to a regular starter.
It’s claimed the 54-year-old still backs his approach not to rush Ugarte’s development and retains the belief that he wasn’t expected to make an instant impact.
But he reportedly may call on Ugarte to partner with Kobbie Mainoo once club football returns with Brentford’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
The 23-year-old destroyer’s arrival inspired hope he would represent the perfect candidate to complement Mainoo – who United are unsurprisingly looking to build around.
Last season in Ligue 1, Ugarte had the second-best tackles-per-90 rate in Europe’s top five leagues, with his 4.6 only bettered by the 5.1 of Joao Palhinha, then at Fulham.
His total of 8.42 ball recoveries per 90 was also ranked seventh across Europe’s top five leagues. The United No. 25’s 2.7 tackles per 90 was the best in France’s top flight.
Ten Hag may hope a more aggressive push will draw better performance levels from Ugarte quicker because he may have little time left in the job.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1961975/Man-Utd-news-Erik-ten-Hag