Regardless if the Glazers are still running the club at the time, Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag will only be able to improve his squad in the summer if two requirements are met, according to a report.
Ten Hag was heavily backed last summer – his first window as Red Devils manager. He was able to spend over £200million on six new players.
After years of poor signings, it actually looks like Man Utd have done well in a transfer window with the likes of Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez hitting the ground running.
Even Antony – who joined for an astounding £85m – has impressed without doing quite enough to fully justify his price tag. It is very early days, though.
The new signings and manager have brought a feel-good factor back to Old Trafford after several miserable years.
Man Utd are the only Premier League club in four competitions following their Carabao Cup quarter-final win over League One Charlton on Tuesday night.
Having not won a piece of silverware in over five years, Ten Hag is very eager to end the club’s trophy drought – which is a very long one by Man Utd’s astronomical standards.
A win against Manchester City this weekend will be their fifth in a row in the Premier League and would put them one point behind their rivals and five off leaders Arsenal.
This is bloody brilliant considering how rubbish Man Utd were last season and how they started this term – losing at home to Brighton before a 4-0 thumping at Brentford in their opening two fixtures.
No matter what happens this season, the future finally looks pretty bright at Old Trafford.
In order to reach the next level, Ten Hag will need to bring in one or two world-class players in the summer transfer window.
This might not be possible, however, with The Telegraph claiming that the former Ajax boss will only be backed if his side qualify for the Champions League and a few players are offloaded.
The Glazer family are looking to sell the club, but it is believed whether or not they are still in charge will not impact Ten Hag’s summer funds.
A top-four finish is looking increasingly likely with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea struggling – and even Tottenham to an extent.
Of course, Man Utd could earn a place in next season’s Champions League should they win the Europa League this term.
They are one of the favourites to lift the trophy alongside Barcelona – who they play in the first knockout round – and Premier League rivals Arsenal.
The report states that Man Utd must ‘raise sufficient money through player sales’ if Ten Hag wants to land the ‘midfielder and striker he wants’.
It is noted that Ten Hag is looking at midfielders Jude Bellingham and Frenkie de Jong and strikers Harry Kane, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen.
Champions League qualification appears to be ‘more important than ever’ with the club still owing £307m in transfer fee installments.
A second season in a row without Champions League football will see the club lose £22.5m in their big-money sponsorship deal with Adidas.
After Man Utd spent more than initially expected last summer, Ten Hag is working with an extremely tight budget this month.
The Red Devils are expected to complete the signing of Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season with a new striker a huge priority following Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit.
In terms of player sales, the report mentions Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred and Donny van Beek, who could all be on the chopping block if need be.
While Weghorst is expected to be the club’s only attacking reinforcement, Ten Hag is keen to bring in another right-back this month.
If Ten Hag can only sign one world-class player in the summer, it is expected to be a new striker over a midfielder, the report adds.
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