Personal terms and video calls - Manchester United are being well run in spite of the Glazers ahead of the transfer window

It remains unclear if those plaques bearing the words 'The Glazer Family' on a row of leather-padded seats in the Old Trafford directors' box will be unscrewed before next season.

Whether United's next owner is Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani - or maybe the Glazers' occupation continues - the football figures at the club are not dithering as much as the incumbent landlords.

United supporters should have been encouraged by Erik ten Hag's assurance targets were "keen" on joining the club three weeks ago. The advantage of securing Champions League qualification 20 days before the transfer window officially opens is United's brochure is complete.

Exclusive: Ten Hag holds calls with striker Rasmus Hojlund

The outcome of the FA Cup final will have little bearing. Manchester City's No.9s are Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez. United's are Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst. United are not planning to buy Weghorst and would like to sell Martial.

Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has already spoken with Ten Hag and they may soon be stablemates at the SEG agency. The Premier League season had not ended and United had already gathered ample intelligence to know that Daniel Levy is an immovable obstacle in their path to Harry Kane.

United view the Eintracht Frankfurt goalscorer Randal Kolo Muani as an alternative option. Going all in on one centre forward would be naive and United have form for ruthlessly leaving a target by the wayside in favour of a more desirable option. Just ask Alvaro Morata.

Well-placed sources say United maintain dialogue with multiple targets per position so they are not caught short. It also weakens a player and his representative's bargaining position. "They can see you coming a mile