Erik Ten Hag Wants Assurances On Manchester United’s Transfer Plans

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said he has not been told how much money he will have to spend on new players this summer.

The Premier League’s transfer window opens on June 10, but United’s transfer budget will be influenced by who are the owners of the club when that happens.

There is ongoing uncertainty about who will be in control of United’s transfer negotiations in this window, as both Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group and the Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani lodged bids last week with the current owners the Glazer family and are waiting to hear if they have been successful.

The sale process has been happening since last November, and United did not spend any money on permanent signings during the January transfer window, only bringing in two players on loan, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst.

“No. I don’t have influence on that. I don’t have…also I don’t know,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Wednesday when asked if he knew what funds he would have this summer.

“The only thing I know is that Man United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest two or three from a fan-base perspective.”

“The club has to compete for the highest honours in the world, Champions League, Premier League, but in football you need funds to construct squads because, at the end of the day, the level from your players decides if you are successful or not.”

“Everyone knows you need funds to construct a squad and high-level players cost a lot of money and that’s the situation nowadays in top football.”

Last summer United signed five players: Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen.

United’s priority this summer will be the signing of an established striker, and they have real interest in Tottenham’s Harry Kane. Ten Hag would also like a central midfielder, and to make additions to his defence.

“I think it’s clear what I want but it’s not up to me,” Ten Hag said, when asked how quickly he needed the takeover of United to be concluded. “It’s about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions, it’s not up to me so I do everything I can and I influence the processes I’m in charge of.”

“Where I can influence I will do on the processes but the ownership is not my job or responsibility so I don’t have the power to influence that. So I’m focusing on improving the squad, the team development. I have to make sure the team is progressing.”

United face Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex stadium on Thursday as they seek to secure a place in the top four of the Premier League and a return to the Champions League next season.

“Yes, I think so,” Ten Hag said when asked if his side was ready for Europe’s leading club competition. “But of course I see this as a project. In your windows, you strengthen your squad, or make investments so you get more balance. You bring young players in.”

“We have already shown the improvement that we can beat the best teams in the world. We can compete in the Champions League. But we want to knock them all out, and there is some way to go.”

“You have to back a manager and believe in his philosophy and strategies,” said Ten Hag. “It’s about quality and cooperation, nobody can do it on his own. There are so many jobs and tasks to do. So you need more people to do it, and togetherness.”