Richard Arnold takes swipe at Ed Woodward with Manchester United transfer question

Richard Arnold subtly criticised Ed Woodward's Manchester United transfer policy during a meeting with fans at a pub near his home.

The 1958 supporters group had planned to demonstrate outside the gates of United's chief executive Arnold's home on Saturday demanding that he and the Glazers leave the club, but Arnold was tipped off and took the initiative to meet the fans.

Arnold met the supporters in the Cheshire pub they had gathered in and he had a frank discussion with the group about United, the Glazers and transfers. The United CEO was covertly recorded and the footage has now gone viral on social media.

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Arnold was asked about United's pursuit of Frenkie de Jong and he seemed to take a swipe at Ed Woodward with his answer. Woodward left his position as executive vice chairman in April and Arnold was appointed as his successor.

Woodward was hugely involved with transfers during his time at the club, but Arnold has already taken a different approach, giving more power to football director John Murtough instead, who is now responsible for United's recruitment strategy.

"Money is not a consideration on who we want," Arnold said in the video. "The manager wants him [De Jong] and they have actually done the work. He's a great player. Is it £100m or £200m? I don't know. Get who you f***ing want."

In an apparent swipe at Woodward, he rhetorically asked: "Do you want me buying the players? Does that not ring a bell?"

There has been positive noise from Arnold's first few months in charge and he received praise for meeting supporters.

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