Coach Erik ten Hag has warned Manchester United’s potential new owners that the investment in the squad will be meaningless if there is no strategy behind it.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim are waiting to hear whether their bid to buy the club has been successful.
Both have suggested they are willing to invest in new players if they take over at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag insists any signing must be carefully planned.
Manchester United face Chelsea on Friday, with the London club set to finish bottom of the Premier League despite owner Todd Boehly spending close to £600 million for 16 new players since his takeover at Stamford Bridge last summer.
“There’s a centralization of good players, the best managers, also money, and it’s all here in England,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Wednesday, as quoted by ESPN.
“It makes for great competition, but also tough, tough competition.”
“And you have to do the right things and you can have money, but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way. And you also need the strategy behind it, because otherwise the money won’t work.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership, the Red Devils are working on plans to make at least two first-team players during the summer transfer window.
Ten Hag wants to sign a striker and central midfielder with Harry Kane and Mason Mount among his targets.
“I think we are in a good direction, but we can also learn from this season,” continued Ten Hag.
“We have to evaluate it after the season is over and make the right conclusions for the future and that’s what we will definitely do after the season is over.”
“I want to have players with the right character, personality, who are extraordinary and contribute at the highest level, that’s what we want and what we have to strive for.”
Manchester United need a point from their last two matches against Chelsea and Fulham to guarantee a place in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
Erik ten Hag is hopeful that striker Marcus Rashford can feature against Chelsea after he returns to training on Tuesday.
