Manchester United ready to strike in final weeks of transfer window as Jonny Evans talks continue

Erik ten Hag wants to keep Jonny Evans at Manchester United for the remainder of the season.

Evans, 35, rejoined United last month on a short-term contract after his deal at Leicester City had expired.

The defender appeared as a second-half substitute in United's friendlies with Lyon in Edinburgh and Athletic Bilbao in Dublin. Evans also started in the Under-21s' 3-1 defeat to Wrexham in San Diego.

United have sent mixed messages about the specific length of Evans's deal and he has spent some training sessions with the U21s.

Also read: Ten Hag sends blunt message to Maguire over his United future

When asked if he wanted to keep Evans, Ten Hag said: "Of course, otherwise we would not be talking.

"No it does it effect it, we will see, we are in talks and when we have news we will bring it as always," Ten Hag said. "For this month he is under contract but we are talking."

The possibility of more incomings at United subsided with the collapse of Harry Maguire's mooted transfer to West Ham. United accepted a £30million bid but Maguire rejected a pay-off, believed to be £6m, as he held out for a figure between £10m-£15m.

United were intent on signing a centre-back to replace Maguire, rather than settling for Evans, while there has been slow movement on other outgoings. United want to sell Eric Bailly, Brandon Williams and Donny van de Beek.

"Our squad is covered - all the positions are covered - but of course, we are Manchester United and we are always looking for improvement," Ten Hag stressed. "And when there is the opportunity we will strike in the last two weeks.

"As I said we are always looking for opportunities but I think we have a good squad. [With] this squad we are convinced we can go for our targets."