(Football news) Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is confident that the ongoing ownership saga will not affect the club’s plans for the summer. In November last year, the Glazer family had announced that they were “exploring strategic alternatives” which could include a full sale of the club. As things stand, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani are the front runners to buy the club, having lodged bids with merchant bank Raine Group.
There is a lot of uncertainty about who will have control over Manchester United next season but manager Ten Hag believes he will be able to shape the squad as per his expectations in the summer window. When asked if the delayed takeover process was affecting the transfer strategy or if he was able to coordinate with the recruitment team for next season’s transfers, the Dutchman said “Yeah, that’s what I’m doing and that’s our job.
“This season that has to be our energy and the focus, but of course we are also planning for the future, for next season and that’s what we have to do. And that is also talking with your scouting department, recruitment responsibilities, and talking with players of course.”
When asked if the club will manage to get key targets in the summer even if the Glazers remain, Ten Hag responded “I think so. I came in here [at the end of] last season and we talked about what we can do in the squad, what we can do in transfers. And last year, the club confirmed they can do it. So, for me, I don’t think anything has changed and yeah, in this summer period we can do the same.”
Manchester United will target a top forward and a versatile midfielder to join their ranks in the summer transfer window. The club are confident that good groundwork has been laid for the summer but with the ambiguity regarding the ownership of the club, it’s unclear if those plans are turned to reality. The club have been offered Brazilian superstar Neymar this summer and while the deal may hold commercial appeal, he isn’t a target currently.
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