New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has outlined the five signings he believes will transform the club this summer.
The Dutch manager has identified Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Brentford playmaker Christian Eriksen and Ajax pair Jurrien Timber and Antony, as well as a back-up goalkeeper, according to the Manchester Evening News.
And though that may read like an expensive shopping list, United Chief Executive Richard Arnold has said ‘money is not a consideration’ in Manchester United‘s pursuit of de Jong as he took aim at Ed Woodward’s handling of transfers in a sensational exchange with a group of United supporters in a Cheshire pub.
Erik ten Hag has supposedly identified the five signings he wants Manchester United to make
Frenkie de Jong is a priority for ten Hag
Having brought in club legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho last summer, United had a promising start to the season before crumbling away to their worst finish in Premier League history with 58 points.
In an honest appraisal of United’s recent history, Arnold on Saturday told the group of supporters: ‘We spent a billion pounds on players, more than anyone in Europe.
‘I’m not thrilled where we are. It doesn’t sit easy with me and I worry how we get this sorted for the future. What’s happened is we have f***ing burned through cash.
‘You can’t go to our training ground and say ‘show me where the £1billion is’ because we haven’t spent money well historically.
‘Last year was a f***ing nightmare. There was hate at every game. We’ve blown through an enormous amount of money.’
United’s interest in de Jong has been well documented as the two clubs have been at loggerheads over a fee for the 25-year-old Dutchman for some time now.
On De Jong, who Barcelona value at £69million, Arnold told fans: ‘Money is not a consideration in who we want.
‘It’s that the manager wants him, that they’ve actually done the work on looking if he’s a great player.
‘Is it £100 million or £200million? I don’t know. Get who you f***ing want.
‘Do you want me buying the players? Doesn’t that ring a bell?’
According to the Twitter of one of the fans who spoke to Arnold, the United chief also said: ‘United officials are in Barcelona getting the deal done for De Jong.
New manager Erik ten Hag has identified ex-Ajax man De Jong as his No 1 summer target
Christian Eriksen impressed for Brentford
‘As a club we’re doing everything possible to get the deal done, I’ve been up for days…