Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has expressed his anger to the club over missing out on Cody Gakpo to Liverpool, according to ESPN.
The Dutch manager is frustrated that the club could not secure Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. The 23-year-old player was a target for ten Hag when he arrived at the Manchester club last summer.
When United failed to secure Gakpo’s services, Ten Hag eyed a January deal for the Dutch international.
However, Liverpool moved ahead of Manchester and are close to signing Gakpo for £37 million. United wanted the PSV captain to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club during the World Cup.
The deal for Gakpo did not surprise ten Hag. He has the same agent as the player and knew when the Reds moved ahead with the transfer.
United did not make an official offer because they could not match Liverpool’s financial package. Ten Hag understands the restrictions on the club after they spent more than budgeted last summer.
However, the former Ajax manager expects United to find a short-term replacement for Ronaldo. There is very little money available for transfers, but the club are looking at short-term loan deals until the end of the season.
One of those short-term options is Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix. The Portuguese international is desperate to leave his club in January.
Felix’s relationship with Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has broken down. The former Benfica player is looking for a new club after struggling in Spain.
Premier League duo Chelsea and United want Felix, but a loan is expensive. A six-month deal will cost the club as much as £22m.
Despite their search for a new striker, United have ruled out another approach for Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic.
