Man Utd are making plans for the summer transfer window and must convince targets that they are a team worth joining.
Erik ten Hag has demanded a response from his Manchester United side following their thrashing at the hands of Liverpool. That reaction needs to come not only against Real Betis tonight, but in the months that follow.
The manner of United’s humiliation brought into question just how many things have really changed this season, and whether the Ten Hag revolution has really been as successful as it seemed just a week ago.
United did what they hadn’t done in nearly six years when they won the Carabao Cup at Wembley, then followed it up with something they hadn’t done in 92 years by losing by seven goals.
The task now is not only to bounce back with a commanding performance against Real Betis on Thursday night, but to prove that their Anfield annihilation really was a one-off and a freak result that will forever go down as an anomaly.
It is particularly important given that the next two months of the season will effectively act as the sales pitch for any summer recruits, as United look to convince top targets of why they will be better off moving to Manchester at the end of the season.
United hold an interest in many elite-level players as they look to take the next step in their rebuild, but the very nature of that interest also means that there are many other teams rivalling them for the players’ signatures.
Victor Osimhen is the top target as United look to sign a new striker this summer, and after a superb season with Napoli, he will be on the top of many other teams’ shopping lists as well.
