‘I have no influence’: Ten Hag admits Manchester United transfer concern

Erik ten Hag has not been informed of the finance available in the summer to strengthen Manchester United’s squad because of the uncertainty regarding the ownership. The Glazers are yet to decide whether a full sale or investment in United should occur.

There had been hope that the club’s future would be resolved before the start of the transfer window but this now appears all but impossible. Both Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe want to buy the club outright, whereas Ares Management, Elliott Investment Management and Carlyle Group, three US funds, are interested in offering finance to one or more of the Glazers.

Ten Hag was asked whether he had been told his transfer budget. “No, I don’t have influence on that,” he said. “The only thing I know is that Man United 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 [honours] in the world – the Champions League, Premier League – but in football you need funds to construct squads because the level of your players decides if you are successful or not. Everyone knows you need funds to construct a squad and high-level players cost a lot of money.”

Ten Hag would like the club’s future determined as soon as possible. “It’s clear what I want but it’s not up to me,” he said. “It’s about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions.

“Where I can make my influence I will do, so I’m focusing on improving the squad, the team development. I have to make sure the team is progressing.”

United travel to Brighton on Thursday in fourth place, seven points ahead of Liverpool, who have five games remaining. Raphaël Varane may be available again soon after