What Man Utd takeover means for Ten Hag’s transfer budget

Jacque Talbot

• 28 May 2023 08:58 BST
• 3 min read

The takeover process of Manchester United is starting to encroach on the club’s upcoming season as Erik ten Hag is not able to make huge transfer purchases.

The Sunday Mirror reports that the Dutchman is working closely with the director of football John Murtough.

But the Glazers' arduous sale process, setting three rounds of bids and constant delays, is having a detriment on their season.

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The American family are asking for £6billion to walk away and this has become a sticking point for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim, both of whom are heading groups to buy the club.

Ratcliffe, the Ineos chief, us offering to buy a controlling interest and allowing Glazer brothers Joel and Avram to retain their stake in the club, something that has not gone down well with fans. Meanwhile, Sheikh Jassim wants to purchase the entire club and clear its debt. The whole affair has now taken six months and the end doesn’t look in sight.

Ten Hag on transfers

Ten Hag was asked about the upcoming window and whether the lack of progress on the takeover front will have an impact.

"No, I don't have influence on that," the Dutchman confirmed. "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 fanbase perspective.

"The club has to compete for the highest [honours] in the world - the Champions League, Premier League - but in football you need funds to construct squads because the level of 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."

Ten Hag added: "It's clear what I want but it's not up to me. It's about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions. Where I can make my influence I will do, so I’m focusing on improving the squad, the team development. I have to make sure the team is progressing."