erik tenhagcurrent coach of Manchester Utdhas his sights set on the American midfielder Taylor Booth.
Ten Hag had tried to sign his former player, Frenkie de Jong, when he joined Manchester United last year, but the transfer fell through. Now, the Dutch coach has set his sights on Booth, who currently plays for Utrecht.
Ten Hag points to De Jong’s replacement for his Manchester
Ten Hag and Booth have something in common: they are both products of the Bayern Munich youth system. Booth, who is 21, turned down a contract extension offer from the Bundesliga giants last year in search of regular playing time at Utrecht. Since then, he has made 26 league appearances and earned his first cap for the United States in March.
Booth is a versatile central midfielder with an attacking mentality. He has been gaining comparisons with De Jong since 2021. In an interview with GOAL in 2019, Booth said: “I can play anywhere in midfield. I prefer (to play as an) ‘8’ or ’10’ because I like more of a role attack. A free roaming role, (where) I can always take the ball. I love having the ball at my feet, being in the game. And I love being able to dictate the tempo of the game.”
With interest from Manchester United and other English clubs in Booth, Utrecht have put a price tag of €10 million on his prize.
The club’s technical director, Jordy Zuidam, has admitted that there is a lot of interest in players like Booth. Manchester United have been looking to strengthen their midfield and have been considering Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Frenkie de Jong as options. However, De Jong seems unlikely that he will join the club after previously turning down a move to Old Trafford. Rice may also be difficult to sign, with West Ham asking an exorbitant fee for the player.
Booth could be a viable alternative for Manchester United, with his versatility and attacking mentality fitting perfectly into Ten Hag’s system of play. Furthermore, with a price tag of €10m, Booth could be a more affordable option for the club.
Ten Hag’s interest in Booth may also be influenced by his past at Utrecht, where he played for and managed the club. With strong ties to the organisation, Ten Hag is able to receive regular updates on Booth’s progress and feel more confident in his ability to succeed at Manchester United.
