EXCLUSIVE: Why Ten Hag will be 'excited' by Man Utd's summer transfer window

Ben Jacobs

• 10 Feb 2023 06:48 CST
• 5 min read

Manchester United may be in the midst of takeover talks, but Ben Jacobs tells FootballTransfers that manager Erik ten Hag will still be able to chase many of his big transfer targets in the summer - regardless of who is in charge...

Ten Hag will be quite excited by what’s to come, whether it’s in April, May or even a little bit later because once the process becomes more concrete and established, he'll be one of the first people to know who exactly is likely to come in and when so can plan accordingly.

And Manchester United, I don't think will be particularly altered in their approach in the transfer market at this stage.

I think more important to their summer window is the qualification to Champions League football than necessarily who the new owner is going to be, at least from a logistical and strategic point of view, because Manchester United will be looking at targets and they will do the legwork to try and window plan, which is normal.

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And we know that they would like to write back and we know that they may move in midfield depending on if Scott McTominay goes and we also know that they would like a traditional kind of striker. The recruitment department can work on those names for sure.

Another big part of Manchester United's summer window will be outgoings and it's quite easy to plan for those outgoings because even if the Glazers are still there, they love the fact that money can be brought in and Erik ten Hag will want to make sure that his squad has a little bit of a clear out in areas.

And that might be Donny van der Beek, but because he's injured, he could stay for a bit longer.

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It could be Harry Maguire, but we always see speculation over clubs he's joining. And I think Maguire, even though he's no longer the number one selection, still could have some minutes and a role to play.

Anthony Martial had injury problems and although Erik ten Hag likes him, there are clubs that could come in for him. I think West Ham one to watch. I think a Lyon return is not unthinkable. They would have the appetite and Newcastle have looked at Anthony Martial before as well.

So Manchester United have got a whole range of names that they can focus on for outgoings as well, and that can then generate potentially a bit of income to allow them to keep the finances within their control, regardless of whether the Glazers are still there or not.

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The only thing that makes it uncertain for Erik ten Hag, I think, is with a really big marquee signing that requires that £85-100 million or more outlay, because that's where the Glazers either have to sanction it or a new owner has to be in.

And when people talk about Manchester United prematurely bidding for Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, it's impossible to say that's their direction of travel.

Strategically, yes, they might like them. From Eric ten Hag’s point of view, he absolutely may define the name, and even those within a recruitment department may define the value, but if you're saying Manchester United will be bidding that amount, then you're either assuming the Glazers are going to be dipping into their pockets, which is unlikely, or your pre allocating money from a new owner that we don't even know yet, which is an impossible thing to do.

Manchester United, I think, will have a range of ambitious to targets because they're going to be clearing out some. And if they make Champions League, they will have these positional areas where they really want to strengthen and have a statement window.

But that statement window can only really be possible with either some income coming into the club and Champions League football on top of it and then the Glazers deciding there is a bigger budget, or a new owner, and everyone will second guess that a new owner will be ambitious and give Eric ten Hag a war chest for want of a better word.

But we can't categorically state that until we know who the new owner is.

What if it's a private investment firm that stick to traditional principles and try and tighten the purse strings?

What if it's a longer-term investor that feels like one or two signings are good enough and then they want to put their money into the infrastructure of the club and get the Old Trafford redevelopment going?

Are the Glazers ensuring a legacy, or are they really just looking to cash out at the highest level?

And the honest truth is, we don't know that for certain at this point, which is why it's very risky to start pre-predicting Manchester United summer transfer strategy.