Manchester United were relaxed about further recruitment during the summer transfer window and - in any case - that prospect was always going to be governed by potential outgoings.
21.07.2023 - 17:55 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to arrange a final farewell for David de Gea at Old Trafford.
De Gea was released by United after 12 years as their number one earlier this month after a string of errors in their run-in last season.
United have signed Ten Hag's former Ajax 'keeper Andre Onana as De Gea's replacement in a €55million deal while the Spaniard is yet to join a new club.
Ten Hag said it was "the right moment" to let De Gea go. "I think David had a huge contribution on our level of performance last year and result, all the clean sheets he made but there's also the team performance. Because we defend with 11, not just the goalkeeper. But it was absolutely obvious David played a big role, a huge contribution.
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"But there's a coming time for every player that the club is going to make changes and it was the right moment in our perspective.
"He will get that big contribution. He deserves it, if it's up to me. David, after 545 games, after all his contributions, his performances, a long period, it's massive, he is for the rest of his life a legend.
"We have to say farewell to him with all the fans at Old Trafford, absolutely."
Ten Hag lauded the character of Onana and Mason Mount as he outlined why he opted for the Cameroon international to replace De Gea.
Onana, 27, met his new teammates on Thursday after arriving in New York and could make his debut in the friendly against Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday.
"They (Onana and Mount) are great football players, that's clear, but also they are great personalities," Ten Hag added. "They know exactly what they want. They both have a winning attitude, they can't lose. They will give 100% effort to get that
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