Erik ten Hag faces transfer balancing act with two players in particular at Manchester United

We are nearly a month into the summer transfer window and Manchester United remain in a period of stasis.

Uncertainty over the takeover process has done little to encourage, and a lack of activity in the transfer market - particularly with Premier League rivals working so swiftly elsewhere - is a concern. United have a busy summer ahead of them, and doing nothing now will only constrict the amount of time they have to do everything.

Erik ten Hag will demand a summer of major investment, and the Dutchman has every right to after guiding his side to a third-place finish and the Carabao Cup. But a combination of Financial Fair Play concerns and a lack of clarity over who is signing the cheques has left him in limbo.

It is believed he will be given an initial budget of between £100million and £120million, which in today's market won't get you much change for a world-class striker - his priority position. Add to that a midfielder and a new first-choice goalkeeper, and you're looking at close to £200million.

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For Ten Hag, that extra £80million will likely come through the sales of maybe half a dozen senior players. The Dutchman has pencilled in a list including the likes of Harry Maguire, Fred, Anthony Martial and Dean Henderson to provide that cash injection.

But with holes in the squad already so gaping in goal and upfront, the exits of Martial and Henderson in particular present an unusual problem: can United afford to sell before they buy?

With Wout Weghorst returning to Burnley and unlikely to get a permanent move following his underwhelming loan spell, Martial will go into the summer as United's only out-and-out striker. The French international had a good