Man United Incoming Manager Erik Ten Hag Suffers Transfer Blow As Targets Turn Him Down.

Erik ten Hag's intentions to overhaul Manchester United's midfield have been thrown into disarray even before he arrives at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag will take over as United manager in June, succeeding Ralf Rangnick, and is looking to improve his midfield options ahead of the new season. Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, and Juan Mata have all confirmed their departures from United, while Paul Pogba is also on his way out and wants to return to Juventus.

However, Dutchman Ten Hag has encountered a brick wall in his attempts to recruit reinforcements, with three of his top targets turning down the chance to join the fallen giants this summer.

Ten Hag has Jude Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips, and Declan Rice on his wanted list, but all three appear to be slipping through his fingers. Borussia Dortmund has advised United that wooing England ace Bellingham to Old Trafford is futile since the German club is unwilling to sell him following Erling Haaland's transfer to Manchester City this summer. Meanwhile, due to the strong rivalry between the two teams, Leeds star Phillips had no intention of joining his hated rivals United.

To make matters worse, Rice has stated that he would stay at West Ham next season and has no desire to join United while the club is not competing in the Champions League.

Ten Hag admires Lazio's defensive midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but the Italian club has informed United that he is not for sale. It means Ten Hag is back to square one in his search for new midfield talent as he realizes the true cost of United's inability to qualify for the Champions League.