He sat in on recruitment meetings, including one that took place after the defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion and lasted several hours. It resulted in those present deciding to go for Casemiro as an alternative target to Frenkie de Jong, who did not want to leave Barcelona.
Ten Hag was joined by Murtough, Fletcher, deputy football director Andy O’Boyle, assistant Steve McClaren, head of recruitment Steve Brown, and interim head of negotiations Tom Keane. “I’m not here,” Arnold told his colleagues, although as the football staff went through the options he did ask why certain players were preferred over others.