‘High-class player’ – Ten Hag optimistic after midfielder’s performances during pre-season

Erik ten Hag is convinced Mason Mount is ready to start contributing to Manchester United after a disastrous first season.

The 25-year-old midfielder signed from Chelsea last summer in a £60 million deal, after entering the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Mount endured injury problems in his first season at United and struggled to settle. He managed just 20 appearances across all competitions, scoring once, and missed out on a place in the England squad for Euro 2024 as a result.

However, Mount’s performances during pre-season have given us all reason to be optimistic ahead of the upcoming season and Ten Hag believes the England international is ready to contribute in a positive way.

“We know he’s a high-class player and just bringing his skills in,” Ten Hag told reporters, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. “Last season, he had a very bad season, a very tough season for him because of all his injuries and now we are very pleased he had a very good pre-season.

“And I’m sure he will now from this point on contribute to the team if he stays fit, but it counts for every player.”

Ten Hag kept his cards close to his chest when asked about United’s transfer activity. The Reds have completed two major signings this summer and it looks like they are still plotting a move for Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as well as a new midfielder.

“When we have news, we will announce it,” he added. “You’ve seen the market, it is quite quiet still. We have done business, we have done two deals, it’s about timings, the market, the market options, the right moment and the right things.

“I don’t go into details, where we are now in recruitment, what we are working on. We know what we are doing, we are in a good position with the squad and just wait, patience and in the right moment we will tell you.

“We did [buy] already, we bought already. As I said, we have a squad where in every position there is double occupation.”

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