![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/erik-ten-hag-told-he-must-abandon-man-utd-transfer-policy-to-mount-serious-title-charge/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0_Erik-ten-Hag-46.jpg&description=Manchester United have already made two signings in the summer transfer window but could be set to make a third with Erik ten Hag eyeing up a striker to bolster his squad Andy Cole says Manchester United must abandon their policy of signing ageing strikers if they are serious about getting back to the top. United are in talks to sign Atalanta's 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund, with the two clubs so far unable to agree a compromise fee for the £80million-rated forward. Former United forward Cole was critical of the club's recent transfer policy of recruiting older strikers nearing the end of their careers, insisting a younger attacker is needed to lead the attack long-term. In recent seasons, United have signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani, and re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo, with Cole claiming such a short-term fix is doomed to failure. "I'm not going to say that if Harry Kane became available for the right money I'd turn him down, obviously not," said Cole. But I think what Manchester United have been doing, for the past five or six years, is bringing people in who are in their mid-30s or late 30s for a couple of years, then we do it again the season after and we do it again. "That's why we've found ourselves in this position now. Long-term, we've not looked for that young centre-forward who can carry Manchester United in for the next five to 10 years or whatever it may be." Cole, speaking to MUTV, said: "That's what Manchester United has been built on - the manager going into a season with three or four strikers. You're guaranteed what you're going to get. You might move someone else on, but you've got someone at that age who can carry the club forward. "For instance, my position, I moved on, Ruud van Nistelrooy was there and went on for many years. But we're buying older centre forwards for a hell of a lot of money and then find ourselves in the same position a couple of years later. This is Manchester United – we're better than that." Former United capt){kind=link}
Manchester United have already made two signings in the summer transfer window but could be set to make a third with Erik ten Hag eyeing up a striker to bolster his squad
Andy Cole says Manchester United must abandon their policy of signing ageing strikers if they are serious about getting back to the top.
United are in talks to sign Atalanta’s 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund, with the two clubs so far unable to agree a compromise fee for the £80million-rated forward.
Former United forward Cole was critical of the club’s recent transfer policy of recruiting older strikers nearing the end of their careers, insisting a younger attacker is needed to lead the attack long-term.
In recent seasons, United have signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani, and re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo, with Cole claiming such a short-term fix is doomed to failure.