Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is hopeful the club will have more funds to compete in the transfer market amid a possible takeover. United invested a club record £225.4million on five signings in the summer and the club’s financial figures last week revealed the Glazers had not taken their semi-annual dividend out of the club.
Erik ten hag said: “Richard Arnold told me. They (the Glazers)’re open and transparent. I was informed by the club but I’m not talking with the owners about this issue. My information is that it will only be good things because there will be more investment possible, which is good. We spoke about the culture we want. We spoke about objectives, goals and the culture and he (Arnold) confirmed it won’t change, it will be even better because more money will become available for this project. I have met them, yes. I don’t speak to them that often but I’ve met them and I’ve spoken to them before I was appointed and when I was appointed. We spoke about how we will work together and how we are going to achieve our objectives but the most contact with Richard.”
Manchester City, champions in four of the last five seasons, are under Abu Dhabi ownership and a Saudi Arabian conglomerate took over Newcastle in October 2021. City and Newcastle occupy second and third in the Premier League table, with United fifth. Although the Glazers have not invested a cent into United since their hostile takeover in May 2005, the club have spent more than £1bn since they last won the title in 2013 and only won two trophies. Ten Hag believes the competition in English football’s top flight has never been so intense.
Erik ten Hag said: “I look at the competition around the Premier League: they all have the opportunity to invest. It’s a tough competition between seven or eight clubs. That’s a change in circumstances when you compare with five or 10 years ago so the competition is much tougher. Newcastle are coming. They have done well. They did the right investments and that is what you have to value. Make the right environment and culture and he has done really well. Even West Ham. Maybe not now in the table but they have huge investment. Spurs definitely and then City and Liverpool I don’t need to talk about them, Chelsea I don’t need to talk about them. Quickly count seven or eight clubs that can compete in the league. Even at the bottom, I don’t see weak teams, they’re all strong. There are no easy games.”
In October, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp irked City and Newcastle when he claimed they and Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain “can do what they want financially”. United have outbid City for a number of players both clubs have been interested in in recent years Ten Hag stressed United had the financial muscle to compete.
Erik ten Hag said: “Yes. I think it’s also about strategy, not just money. It’s clear that when you don’t have the right players and quality players you will not be successful and achieve the targets you set. The competition is really tough so you need the right players.”
