Erik ten Hag in the dark over Manchester United transfer funds amid potential takeover

Erik ten Hag admits he is in the dark over Manchester United's budget for the summer transfer window as the club's owners mull over takeover proposals.

The Glazer family have received bids from Ineos and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as offers from potential investors, after announcing a "strategic review" in November.

Representatives on behalf of Sheikh Jassim were invited to Old Trafford and United's Carrington training complex as part of the process. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of petrochemicals company Ineos, visited the bases in person.

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United are well poised to return to the Champions League next season, have already won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

A striker is Ten Hag's priority, with the United manager's preferred target the Tottenham talisman Harry Kane. Ten Hag also wants a midfielder, having endorsed approaches for Frenkie de Jong or Jude Bellingham, while United have also held discussions with Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong. The club are also likely to be in the market for a goalkeeper and a centre half.

United have drawn up a long list of sellable squad players to meet Uefa and the Premier League's financial regulations but an elite striker and a midfielder are likely to set them back at least £200million.

When asked if he knew if he would have funds for the summer irrespective of the ownership situation, Ten Hag replied: "No, I don’t have influence on that.

"I don’t have… also I don’t know. The only thing I know is that Man Utd is one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest two or three from a fanbase perspective.

"The club has to compete for the highest in