Manchester United will continue their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex on Saturday afternoon.
Erik ten Hag's side opened their new season with a 1-0 success over Fulham last Friday; the game's only goal came from debutant Joshua Zirkzee, who turned a Alejandro Garnacho cross into the bottom corner.
The Red Devils will now be aiming to make it successive wins at the start of the new campaign when they head to Brighton, and here Sports Mole picks out three talking points from Ten Hag's pre-match press conference.
Ten Hag asked about potential Ugarte arrival
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Man United are said to be on the verge of signing Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, with an announcement on a deal for the midfielder potentially arriving on Friday.
Ten Hag was coy on the situation when questioned during his press conference, but his words suggested that there would be another signing arriving at the club before the end of the transfer window.
"Just be patient, just sit and wait. We are working very hard and we will always try to make the best squad possible. So we have a couple of days [left] and the approach will always be improvement," he told reporters.
"As long as we have the opportunity, we will look for it and, in this moment, of course I cannot tell any news. When we have news, we will bring it."
Man United have already signed Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui this summer, and it does appear that Ugarte will be the fifth player through the door.
As it stands, it seems most likely that the Uruguay international will arrive on loan for the 2024-25 campaign, with the deal then becoming permanent during next summer's transfer window.
Sancho's future remains unclear amid ongoing speculation
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Jadon Sancho was left out of the squad against Fulham last Friday despite being available for selection, and there is ongoing speculation surrounding the England international's future.
Barcelona are believed to be looking at a possible deal for the ex-Manchester City youngster before the end of the transfer window, and Ten Hag was unable to guarantee that the forward would be back in the squad against Brighton when he was questioned on Thursday afternoon.
"We will see. We have a squad and I hope we will have a squad with double positioning. When we go into the season after 1 September, then that also means you can't select all the players for a game," he said.
"But we need all the players throughout the season because this will be a season of survival of the fittest. We have to manage it but also the attitude of the players is important. Sometimes they will be disappointed but they have to deal with it. You don't win with 11, you win as a squad.
"The prizes are decided next May so, until then, we need all the players in the squad and we need a high level of high motivation. That is not an expectation, it is a demand from the club and the manager. It is the squad over everything and that will always be more important than just one individual."
Sancho has only managed 12 goals and six assists in 83 matches for Man United in all competitions, and he is behind the likes of Marcus Rashford, Garnacho and Amad Diallo when it comes to the starting roles in the wide positions at Old Trafford.
He managed to patch-up his relationship with Ten Hag earlier this summer following last year's high-profile falling-out, but a lot of damage was done at the start of last season.
Ten Hag clarifies Lindelof situation amid recent speculation
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Victor Lindelof has not featured for Man United since being withdrawn at the interval of their pre-season friendly with Liverpool at the end of their US Tour.
There had been some confusion surrounding his absence, especially as his wife recently uploaded a story on Instagram showing the centre-back using crutches.
Ten Hag revealed on Thursday that the Sweden international was struggling with a toe problem, which will again rule him out of action against Brighton this weekend.
"There is no confusion, he has an issue on his toe. So hopefully he can return quickly but he is not available for the weekend," said the manager.
Lindelof has dropped down the pecking order for the centre-back spots this summer, and there have been suggestions that he could leave during the current window.
However, it is believed that the 30-year-old is willing to see out the final year of his contract at Old Trafford even if it means that he struggles for action during the 2024-25 campaign, with Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Yoro, De Ligt and Jonny Evans all ahead of him in Ten Hag's thinking.
Matt Law
