Glazers tell Man Utd bidder of £434m transfer plan to sign five in biggest ‘market assault’ in history

Joe Williams
Man Utd owner Avram Glazer

Premier League giants Man Utd will spend big money in the summer transfer window even if a takeover fails to go through, according to reports.

The Red Devils have had a solid first season under Erik ten Hag with Man Utd now just needing one more point to qualify for the Champions League after beating Bournemouth 1-0 on Saturday.

However, it remains to be seen if Man Utd will have new owners before next season with Sheikh Jassim making a fourth bid for the club earlier this week.

Both Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank and the son of a former Qatari prime minister, and his rival INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted what had been expected to be their third and final bids for the club last month.

But amid growing confidence in the Ratcliffe camp, Sheikh Jassim has increased the value of his offer, which as before is for 100 per cent of the club, will clear all debt and includes a separate fund directed solely at the club and community.

Officials and staff inside Old Trafford are eager for clarity over the takeover situation, which began in November when Man Utd announced that the board was exploring “strategic alternatives” to enhance the club’s growth, with a full sale one option being considered.

Ten Hag will be keen to build on what he has achieved this season and Spanish publication El Pais claims that the Glazers are planning to back the Dutchman in the transfer market if they stay at the Premier League club.

Man Utd are planning the biggest ‘market assault’ in the history of football as they aim to bring in five players for €500m (£434m) with Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic all being considered as options for a new striker.

Ten Hag will also look for a new midfielder with El Pais claiming Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister are all possible signings.

Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman and Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could be the answer at left wing, while Man Utd also want two new defenders.

El Pais add that Barcelona’s Ronaldo Araujo is one player they could sign in defence and Napoli centre-back Kim Min-Jae has been heavily linked.

A source close to Sheikh Jassim’s bid told El Pais: “United gave us the list of players they wanted to sign.”

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