Man Utd takeover: Glazers PARALYSING Ten Hag’s transfer plans

Robin Bairner

28 May 2023 17:10 BST
2 min read

Manchester United owners the Glazer brothers stand accused of paralysing the summer transfer plans of manager Erik ten Hag with the constant delays to the takeover process.

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The Red Devils were put up for sale in December 2022, at which point there was optimism that a deal could be done swiftly. Certainly, there was little indication of the issue dragging into the summer and threatening Ten Hag’s continued rebuild to the team.

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Although Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS continue to lead the way for the purchase of the club, the Glazers have refused to enter into exclusive negotiations with either him or Sheikh Jassim, delaying the process further and pushing it beyond the end of the Premier League season.

The knock-on effect on Ten Hag and his side is not insignificant, although the manager himself has been restrained with regards his comments on the subject.

’Glazers squeezing every penny from takeover’

According to the Mirror, this hold up is beginning to hit the former Ajax boss, with the Glazers “resolved to squeezing every single penny out of a potential sale after demanding £6 billion to walk away”.

However, Sky Sports reports that Ratcliffe only values the club around the £5.5bn mark and Sheikh Jassim has also been reticent to offer such a fee.

This is in no way positive for the club as the summer transfer window approaches, with Ten Hag no closer to discovering what sort of budget he may have to play with.

It is FootballTransfers’ understanding that modest sized deals are unlikely to be troubled, but Ten Hag may have more difficulty in securing marquee signings.

Unfortunately, for the Dutchman, this is the type of player he is most in need of. United need a new centre-forward and have been most closely associated with is in the luxury end of the market, with Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane both valued over £100m.

As things stand, Ten Hag and Man Utd will struggle to secure such a transfer – and the Glazers and this self-imposed limbo is to blame.