Manchester United have reportedly told new boss Erik ten Hag that he may have to get the best out of the players already at Old Trafford despite the Red Devils’ ambitions in the transfer market.
The club are expected to be busy this summer as they aim to improve upon their worst Premier League season under Ralf Rangnick last term. A number of names have of course already been linked with a switch to Old Trafford - Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong chief among those.
As a matter of fact, the Red Devils have made their first attempt to secure the Dutchman’s signature having seen an opening bid of £60m rejected by the Catalan giants. Whilst the centre of midfield is clearly a priority for the new United boss, it is also claimed that the club’s forward line is a position that he wants to pay special attention to.
It remains to be seen whether the club will be able to afford significant additions in both departments having already seemingly fallen out of the race for Benfica’s Darwin Nunez - fierce rivals Liverpool looking set to complete a deal for the Uruguayan hotshot. Ten Hag’s plans may be left frustrated even further with a decision made by the club’s hierarchy.
According to ESPN, the former Ajax schemer has been told that he may have to rely on the selection of players already at the club for the most part, which may be slightly more difficult than first thought. United have already lost a large swath of players ahead of next season - the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all leaving at the end of their contracts.
Of course, the Red Devils' options will be supplemented by those returning from loan spells away from the club. Former Ajax star Donny van de Beek looks highly likely to be back in the first-team fold having previously thrived under ten Hag in Amsterdam.
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Meanwhile, there will remain questions over the futures of Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams and Andreas Pereira - the trio all set to return to Old Trafford following temporary stints away from the club.
Ahead of his first season in charge, ten Hag has suggested that he is excited at the prospect to starting work with the current crop of players at Old Trafford. Speaking in his introductory press conference, he said: "I just said, I am still in the process of analysing to set conclusions.
“I am looking forward to working with these players. The season before, this squad was second in the league, so there is huge potential. I think if we improve, if we can work with them, I think we can get out more than what is now the result from this season."
