A year ago
Manchester United are close to qualifying for the Champions League after missing out on the competition last season. One person who had a huge influence on this achievement was Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman has faced many problems since joining the club and so far he has been able to solve them all.
The next issue on his plate is the issue of selling Manchester United, which will significantly affect his plans for the upcoming transfer window and also next season. If the sale of the club is completed quickly enough, the Dutchman could sign the players he needs for next season. There are now rumors that Manchester United are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane. The Red Devils have struggled to score goals this season and Erik ten Hag has also indicated that the club will do their best to sign a striker next summer.
Another player on Manchester United's radar is Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Red Devils have been interested in the Serbian for many years and were eventually able to fulfill their interest by signing the Lazio star.
Manchester United have also been linked with Ajax centre-back Jurien Timber and Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has scored nine goals and provided 10 assists this season at right-back. The Red Devils need an attacking full-back and Frimpong is the right player to fill that void.
Manchester United are also said to be looking to sign another goalkeeper next summer. The Red Devils are keeping an eye on Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who could replace David De Gea as the club's number one next season.
With the Reds signing Diogo Costa, Jurien Timber, Jeremie Frimpong, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Harry Kane, here's how Erik ten Hag's men could line up:
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According to reports, Manchester United owners the Glazers will consider all their options by the end of the month as the takeover saga drags on. The Americans confirmed in November that they were ready to leave Old Trafford after 18 years of controversial rule. However, while Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are interested in buying, it is not yet clear what will happen.
At the start of the week, it seemed that Ratcliffe was the most likely to buy United.
But Sheikh Jassim made his fourth bid for the club on Friday, less than 24 hours after Avram Glazer was discovered at a hotel owned by Qatar's billionaire father. Since then, however, things have calmed down a bit. Erik ten Hag remains in the dark about his transfer plans, amid interest in Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Frenkie de Jong.
And Sportico now claim the Glazers will 'consider all of their options by the end of May'.
It says a solution "is still pending because the Glazers don't have a 'uniform decision' on what they want to do."
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It's an open secret that brothers Joel and Avram Glazer have long enjoyed running United, despite the backlash they often receive from fans. Under Ratcliffe's lead, the pair can continue to hold reduced roles before cashing out their holdings for future bonuses.
However, it is believed that the remaining four members of the Glazer family will eventually tend to pack up and leave forever.
Sheikh Jassim only wants 100% of United and any takeover by Qatar will result in the departure of all six siblings, which fans have made clear they want to see happen.
But news of the Glazers setting a deadline for late May could anger Ten Hag.
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Rivals have planned the summer transfer window with details of how much they will have to spend. However, while a £100m budget has been announced, Ten Hag is not fully aware of the resources he will have.
Kane and Osimhen are his two main targets, with the United boss knowing he needs a new No. 9 to challenge Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title next season.
They also want a midfielder, with De Jong once again being considered despite Ten Hag's side turning him down last summer.
United are poised to land a new right-back amid a strained relationship with Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.
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And although David De Gea is set to sign a new contract with the club, the Red Devils are also said to be ready to put their goalkeeping division into action.
Meanwhile, United legend Andy Cole has urged his former side not to sign Kane - insisting he would only be a 'short-term solution'.
Speaking to William Hill, he said:
"Manchester United can no longer choose a short-term solution.
"They can't spend £80m or £100m on Harry Kane.
"In two years they will come back and say to themselves: 'He's 32, we have to find another striker'. “They cannot afford to find themselves in this position again.
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