A year ago
Manchester United will not sanction any spending until the takeover is complete, which is driving boss Ten Hag out of patience after identifying targets months ago.
Almost a month after Manchester United returned to the Champions League, they have yet to make a move in the summer transfer market.
When United beat Chelsea 4-1 at Old Trafford on May 25 to secure an immediate return to Europe's elite club competition, Eri ten Hag warned they needed "top players." head" to compete there.
“We need more,” said Ten Hag. "We are far away now, so we have a lot of work to do. We have made progress, but we need better players if we want to compete for the top spot. But I don't have much patience, that's one of my mistakes.
United's lengthy takeover saga, coupled with the Glazers' historic reluctance to spend big after Champions League qualifying, dashed Ten Hag's hopes of strengthening the squad.
Ten Hag spoke with United's director of football and technical director Darren Fletcher earlier this spring to identify targets, as well as exits, for early intervention in the transfer market.
But those best-laid plans stalled, with the Glazers refusing to approve spending until the takeover situation was resolved, a situation likely to anger Ten Hag.
The United manager's frustrations will grow as rivals Manchester City rush to sign Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic, Liverpool's arrest of Alexis MacAllister and Arsenal's first move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice .
While their direct rivals did the transfer business early, just before their return to pre-season, United were plagued by a familiar story of inertia in the transfer market. Ten Hag and Avram Glazer after the FA Cup final
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired a decade ago, United have spent an average of £93.1m on transfers in the summer after qualifying for the Champions League.
However, that figure has almost doubled to around £182m in seasons without Champions League qualification, a trend that looks set to continue this summer, with them unable to move the market. school.
Despite receiving more money from qualifying for the Champions League, as well as increased sponsorship income, United have historically been more frugal, as former bosses Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar were able to prove Solskjaer.
Ten Hag wants at least three players to strengthen his squad - a striker, a midfielder and a goalkeeper - and has identified targets for all of those positions.
But Ten Hag is currently handcuffed as the future of United's ownership remains unresolved, with other clubs poised to make the most of and work towards the Dutchman's transfer targets. Tottenham's Harry Kane, Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund are on Ten Hag's shortlist for strikers, while Chelsea's Mason Mount, Barcelona's Frenkie De Jong and Brighton's Moises Caicedo are top targets. guard.
Ten Hag are looking to sign a new No 1 goalkeeper, with David De Gea set to expire on June 30 and have yet to agree new terms. Porto's Diogo Costa, Everton's Jordan Pickford and Brentford's David Raya are Ten Hag's options.
Again, however, United's failure to act quickly could cost them goals, with Raya set to join Tottenham.
For Ten Hag, last season's progress is being ruined every day as United fail to act in the market. By his own admission, Ten Hag is impatient. Currently, this impatience is being pushed to the extreme by the Glazers.
Total Comments: 0