Erik ten Hag has told Manchester United's owners they have to invest this summer and avoid a repeat of the January transfer window if they want to kick on next season.
Ten Hag took aim at the Glazers over a lack of spending in January when he could only sign Jack Butland, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst on loan, claiming United's rivals splashed the cash.
Newcastle signed Anthony Gordon and Liverpool snapped up Cody Gakpo in the mid-season window, with Gakpo a player Ten Hag wanted until he was told the club couldn't afford any permanent signings after spending £225million in the summer.
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Chelsea spent more than £200million on new players in January, with little return for their money, while title-chasing Arsenal signed Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard.
Ten Hag insist the purse strings have to be loosened this summer if United want to maintain their status as a top-four club, although the transfer picture is complicated by the fact a potential takeover remains unresolved while the Glazers consider their position.
"The club knows if you want to play top four, compete for trophies in this tough league then you have to invest otherwise you don’t have a chance because other clubs will do," Ten Hag said after United had beaten Fulham 2-1.
"We’ve seen it in the winter, all the clubs around us made huge investments, we didn't, but still we made it, so I’m proud of my team."
United's record spend last season, which saw Ten Hag sign Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Antony, helped the club add 17 points to the tally they ended last season with, finishing third in the process.
But to realistically challenge for the Premier League title they will need to find at least another 17-point improvement.
"We are in the right direction, but we are not there where we have to be, there’s still a long way to go, there’s potential in this team and in individual players," said Ten Hag.
"We showed during the season we made progress, that’s a complement to the players and the coaches, we worked really hard, but we have to make an investment."
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