The prolonged Manchester United takeover saga is not just frustrating fans, it may also impact the playing staff too.
The squad are eager to push on from last season’s good term and fresh faces can raise spirits. The bigger the name, the bigger the boost.
United will be after a handful of high-profile signings this season, especially at the top end of the pitch. Harry Kane is the top target but a move for the striker seems to be waning.
There is still a lot of ambiguity around what size budget Erik ten Hag will be given this summer. Speculation is suggesting around £120m, which isn’t the biggest of pots when compared to the likes of Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City.
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It will mean that players will have to be sold in order to facilitate more than two arrivals, with the main acquisitions almost certainly being a forward and midfielder. United would have to do this anyway amid Financial Fair Play rules given last year’s £225m spend.
But there is disgruntlement about how United’s global stature is not being matched by their summer wallet. On the pitch, Ten Hag is helping the Reds climb back among Europe’s elite after a wonderful debut campaign.
After the final day win over Fulham, he declared he was going to “fight” to improve the team, and the players are equally eager for that. “Like I said before, we have to be challenging for the title with this team,” Luke Shaw said last month.
“With the direction this manager is going under, I’m sure we’re going to make new signings, big signings this summer. So hopefully we can get them done as quickly as possible so they're in for pre-season.”
That prospect is looking bleak with the conclusion of the takeover still hidden behind curtains. Furthermore, the uncertainty of it is casting a cloud over Old Trafford that potential signings are wary of passing under as they search for contract guarantees.
Maybe more to the point, Ten Hag is unable to attract the bigger names while this process is still going on. He has turned attention from Kane to Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The 20-year-old scored 16 times this season, which is notable but not excitable. However, that is the size of downgrade the club are contemplating right now.
Sheikh Jassim is rumoured to be willing to offer a bigger transfer kitty than Sir Jim Ratcliffe but regardless of who ultimately takes over - should the Glazers indeed decide to sell - the new owner will want to make some sort of initial statement in the market.
That will provide a boost to both the fans and the players. That’s what United supporters are dreaming of, but amid the current takeover delay their hopes are being jeopardised, as are Shaw's
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