Erik ten Hag planning to use Jadon Sancho & Bruno Fernandes as strikers for upcoming season: Report

The Dutchman already has Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee for No. 9 position.

Erik ten Hag could experiment with his attacking players in this upcoming season. He is considering using Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho as strikers.

Sancho, who has buried the hatchet after fruitful discussions with the Manchester United manager, is back in the Dutchman’s plans. The forward also participated in the pre-season games. He might be hoping to turn his career around next season.

During a loan stint with Borussia Dortmund in the second half of the previous season, Sancho saw a revival in form. He played 24 games and assisted the Bundesliga team in reaching the UEFA Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid.

“That is what we can do if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus,” said Ten Hag in quotes published by The Athletic.

“Of course, Joshua Zirkzee is coming in. He has started training. But he is not so long in training so it will take time and he has to adjust to English football and our way of playing.

“Jadon can of course play as a striker. He can also play in wide areas but it could be he is a good option.”

United have been unlucky with constant injuries. The club saw new signing Leny Yoro suffer an ankle injury. He could miss a few weeks of next term. Rasmus Hojlund’s expected hamstring injury is going to see him remain on the sidelines only for a couple of Premier League games. This can be said as a welcome boost to United‘s front-line selection concerns, as things could have been worse.

Joshua Zirkzee is still getting used to life at Old Trafford. Ten Hag emphasised that it would be foolish to have high expectations from the £34 million acquisition from Bologna.

Erik ten Hag also has Marcus Rashford as an option. But the 26-year-old needs to improve following a subpar season in which he only managed eight goals in 43 appearances across all competitions.

The captain of United, Bruno Fernandes, has been used primarily as an attacking midfielder. But he has also played as a centre-forward in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City. Even in the 3-2 victory against Newcastle United at Old Trafford last season.

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