Man United transfer policy being guided by ‘no d***heads’ rule as chief Richard Arnold tries to ensure Erik ten Hag isn’t held back by troublemaker players as he bids to restore glory days to Old Trafford
- Manchester United recruited well in Erik ten Hag’s first summer as manager
- Chief executive Richard Arnold reportedly insisted on a ‘no d***heads’ policy
- United hierarchy want to ensure Ten Hag isn’t undermined by problem players
Manchester United‘s recruitment ‘is being guided by a ‘no d***heads’ policy’ designed to avoid the dressing room friction that undermined Erik ten Hag‘s predecessors.
Club chief executive Richard Arnold issued the edict to manager Ten Hag and football director John Murtough as they pursued transfer targets last summer.
Arnold was sick and tired of seeing progress on the field undermined by troublemakers who caused problems for bosses like Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold insisted on a ‘no d***heads’ rule when it came to summer recruits so manager Erik ten Hag wasn’t undermined by problem players
United recruited well over the summer with Casemiro and Antony among their signings
The transfer policy has helped Erik ten Hag revive Manchester United’s fortunes on the pitch
According to the Daily Telegraph, Arnold was also central in convincing United’s American owners, the Glazer family, to spend around £75million more than the original budget for last summer.
However, it was also Arnold who reminded Ten Hag that overspend meant there wouldn’t be anything in the coffers for the January transfer window.
Ten Hag had been keen to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo, who ended up moving to Liverpool for £44m.
An underachieving United team has been revived by the purchases of midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70m, defender Lisandro Martinez from Ajax for £57m, and left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord for £13m.
Ten Hag was privately pushing for funds to sign Cody Gakpo, who moved to Liverpool
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who cost £70m from Real Madrid, has proved an excellent buy
The free signing of midfielder Christian Eriksen has also proved an excellent decision, while Ten Hag still…