Erik Ten Hag aiming to bring in World class players as USMNT Taylor Booth is reportedly on radar

Erik ten Hag is committed to bringing in two elite players if Manchester United makes the Champions League this year.

Ten Hag's first season as Manchester United's manager has been great. The Dutchman has already claimed a trophy from the Carabao Cup, and he still has to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

It wouldn't be shocking to see Ten Hag open his "little black book" once more this summer to bolster the United ranks. And going back to one of his old teams would give United a potential superstar.

When it comes to signings for Manchester United, Erik ten Hag is not a stranger to using his contact list.

The United manager raided previous club Ajax last year to bring Antony and Lisandro Martinez to Old Trafford, and Wout Weghorst's January arrival made clear the Dutch connection.

Ten Hag oversaw FC Utrecht from 2015 to 2017, and Taylor Booth has been a standout for them. United is said to be interested in Taylor Booth. Numerous Premier League teams and clubs from across Europe are circling the gifted midfielder, but Ten Hag has the connections to get the jump on them.

This semester, Booth has drawn attention in what is turning out to be a breakthrough campaign for the 21-year-old. He made 23 matches and was named Player of the Month for November in the Dutch league.

Although he has only scored twice, goals are a part of his game, and his capacity to hold onto the ball while gaining possession deep would be in line with Ten Hag's preferences. He is primarily an attack-minded player with the vigor to play a box-to-box role and the imagination to offer and take risks.

Despite only moving to Utrecht last year, his performance in the Netherlands led to an American international debut, and a summer move seems imminent. Booth made a bit of a leap of faith by joining the team, choosing to turn down Bayern Munich's offer of a new contract in favor of playing time with the first team.

He spent three seasons with Bayern, but he only ever played one senior match, a cup match against fourth-tier Bremer that ended 12-0 in favor of Bayern. German giants swooped to lure the teenager to Europe when Munich scouts saw her while she was attending Real Salt Lake's academy, backed by an Italian passport.

It's a path taken by many, including Christian Pulisic of Chelsea, with the Bundesliga serving as something of a cradle for young American talent.

Booth defied convention by moving to Utrecht rather than staying put and growing in Germany, but the choice has been profitable.

A number of teams are apparently interested in hiring Booth, including United. Booth, who had the option of declaring his international allegiance to Italy, has always yearned to compete on the grandest platform. Old Trafford isn't much bigger than the rest.

"I'm flattered if the national teams of USA or Italy think about me or clubs in the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A," he said earlier this season.

"Since I was a little boy playing soccer in the basement of our home in Eden, I've always said you can't dream big enough."

It has not been easy for Booth to make the transition from Utah to one of the most in-demand performers in Europe. His 'flopping neck' or torticollis as a baby necessitated 24-hour therapy for the first five months of his existence.

"I remember saying, 'I hope he's healthy'," his mother told Deseret News. "So he's gone from needing physical therapy as a baby to being on the US National Teams and he thinks it's normal. What he doesn't realise is that there was a time when I just thought, 'I hope his lungs work and his brain works'."

That is now beyond question. Booth has established a career in Europe and appears set to advance this summer. There is no need to introduce Ten Hag.

However, the qualification for the Champions League is still open to discussion. With two games left, the Red Devils did move closer after beating the Wolves, but it's still not a lock.

In the transfer market, European soccer is also crucial for United. Without it, it will be difficult to find world-class names.

If Manchester United qualifies for the Champions League, the Dutch manager is desperate to sign a top striker and midfielder (via Manchester Evening News).

For his striker position, the Dutchman appears to have two alternatives. Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane are in this.

Kane appears to be the best option. The England captain has frequently shown why he is among the finest in the Premier League.

Osimhen is ultimately a risk due to his lack of English football experience despite leading Napoli to the Scudetto this season. Moreover, it was a very expensive risk.

For the Dutchman, Jude Bellingham and Frenkie de Jong were the two "world-class" names that first came to mind when thinking about midfielders.

According to Fabrizio Romano's report, Bellingham appears to be headed for Real Madrid. De Jong is the other remaining candidate as a result.

Last year, United made unbelievable efforts to sign the Barcelona midfielder. It seemed the 26-year-old was anxious for Champions League football and chose to stay with the Catalan team despite his excellent relationship with ten Hag. We are all aware of the outcome.

The return of Tuesday and Wednesday nights to Old Trafford may be enough to entice the ideal candidate for the head coach to Manchester.