(Football news) Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said that investment is necessary if the club wants to remain in the top four of the Premier League. The Red Devils have already won the Carabao Cup and are in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, which is a significant progress from the debacle of the 2021/2022 season. However, the club were limited to just three loan signings in January and the Dutch manager knows that significant investment is needed if the club have to make up the 14 point gap over Manchester City.

Speaking after the Premier League season ended, Ten Hag said “The club knows that if you want to play top four, if you want to compete for trophies in this tough league, you have to invest, otherwise you won’t progress because other clubs will. We saw it in the winter. All the clubs around us invested. We didn’t and still we made it. So I am really happy and proud of my team.” The Red Devils were one of just five teams to not spend in January and the only club out of them to reach a European place.

However, Ten Hag was supported in last summer’s transfer window, spending £225 on six new players including Antony, who signed for £86m from Ajax. As things stand, it’s unclear who will be Manchester United’s owner next season as the Glazer family remain coy about the ownership of the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani remain interested parties for a takeover, which could cost over £5bn.

Ineos billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains the leading candidate to buy Manchester United. The Glazer family along with a number of independent directors were updated on the sale process by the Raine Group, a merchant bank advising Manchester United. Ratcliffe has proposed to buy a majority stake in Manchester United, which would leave two members of the Glazer family involved while Sheikh Jassim wants a complete takeover.

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