United’s new owner is already planning for the summer transfer window with a major target.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have only been at Manchester United officially for a matter of days, but he has already sanctioned his first major transfer deal, if recent reports are to be believed.
Despite the excitement that greeted Ratcliffe’s arrival at the Old Trafford helm, he is not planning on rushing things and has already set out a three-year plan to get the Red Devils back towards the top of the Premier League and European football.
“We have to be careful we don’t rush at it in a way, you don’t want to run to the wrong solution rather than walk to the correct solution. We need to do things well and properly, and thoroughly, and not rush at it, so it’s not an overnight change, it’s going to take two or three seasons.
“You have to ask the fans for some patience. I know the world these days likes instant gratification but that’s not the case with football really.”
First on his agenda is going to be trimming the squad, with plenty of players currently on the books that are likely to be moved on this summer. Anthony Martial will leave on a free transfer, while there are question marks over Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Christian Eriksen and Sofyan Amrabat (whose loan is set to expire at the end of the season).
Both Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay were also strongly linked with moves away from Old Trafford last summer, and that interest could be reignited should Ten Hag deem them surplus to requirements once more.