Ten Hag: Why we signed Amrabat

The Moroccan midfielder was acquired on loan from Italian club Fiorentina on Friday evening, subject to international clearance and registration requirements.

Amrabat was ineligible for Sunday’s Premier League match at Arsenal and his shirt number will not be revealed until the move has been completed.

Ten Hag said he was “very pleased” to get the deal over the line and believes the 27-year-old will be a good addition to the squad.

In his post-match press conference at the Emirates Stadium, the boss explained: “It was already, from the start of the season, one of my wishes to get another [number] six, a holding midfielder, in the squad because through the season you need that depth there.

“In that position we only had Casemiro who can play really well there. With others we have to make compromises but, with Sofryan Amrabat, we have another one.

“Also he can play alongside Casemiro because he can also play a little bit higher on the pitch. So it's very good to have him and I think he fits very good to Premier League football, to Champions League football. I think the demands are strong.

“He is very dynamic, he’s very good in the duels. So we are pleased that we have him at United and I think he will contribute to our high targets we set.”

When asked whether he was frustrated that the transfer didn’t happen sooner, Ten Hag replied: “No, sometimes you have to wait for the right timing.”