Erik ten Hag has sent a thinly veiled message to Manchester United owners to keep investing in his team.
After signing Mason Mount and Andre Onana in the summer, Manchester United are closing in on Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund for £60m plus add-ons.
It’s a decent amount of investment from unpopular owners, the Glazer family, but Ten Hag is asking for more support as United try to close the gap with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. .
Addressing The Athletic about his influence on the transfer process, Ten Hag said: “ I’m totally involved, but you’ve seen all the investments other clubs are making and you can’t compete in the Premier League for the top spots if you don’t invest in your team. You see the deal, but I can’t do anything for him or anyone else at United. It’s a choice: if you want to be competitive, you have to invest.
A veiled threat to leaders
“We are always looking for better quality. If you want to be at United you have to reach a very high level and when we have the opportunity to improve we have to do it because everyone expects the best from us.
Hojlund’s move could be United’s last significant arrival in this summer’s transfer window. The club are also interested in Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and have not entirely ruled out the possibility of signing Harry Kane from Tottenham, but both moves appear to be budget dependent. United’s total spending under Ten Hag now stands at over £350m.
