Man United 'must make Champions League' for Ten Hag to sign targets

Man United ‘must qualify for the Champions League AND sell players’ if Erik ten Hag wants a new striker and midfielder this summer… with Kane, Osimhen and De Jong possible targets and Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and Van de Beek potentially on way out

  • Erik ten Hag is keen on a new striker and midfielder at Man United this summer
  • But in order to sign them, United will need to qualify for the Champions League
  • They will also have to sell current players in order to raise funds for transfer kitty
  • Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko are reportedly forward targets
  • Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham would be ideal signings in the midfield
  • Harry Maguire, Fred, Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka may be sold 

Manchester United ‘will have to qualify for the Champions League and sell players’ if Erik ten Hag is to bring in both a midfielder and a striker this summer.

The Dutch coach wants to sign a world class striker with the likes of Harry Kane of Tottenham, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and RB Leipzig-bound Benjamin Sesko linked.

Another dominant midfielder is also needed, with Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong or Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham names in the frame.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a balancing act to bring in summer targets

Tottenham and England star Harry Kane could be among striker targets for Manchester United

But, according to the Daily Telegraph, United will have to achieve a top four finish in the Premier League this season and offload current players to raise funds.

The likes of Harry Maguire, Fred, Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka may be put on the transfer list.

Even then, Ten Hag may have to choose between a striker or a midfielder. This could reportedly remain the case even if the Glazer family sell the club.

The report says United owe £307million in transfer fee instalments and will feel the effect of UEFA’s new Financial Sustainability rules, limiting their summer transfer kitty.

Ten Hag’s side are in excellent form and are at least on course for Champions League football as they are currently fourth in the table.

United sit fourth in the Premier League table and are on course to make the Champions League

Ten Hag wanted to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong last summer but failed in the bid

The Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko is another potential summer striker target

Positive results against second-placed Manchester City at Old Trafford this Saturday and then leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium the following weekend could put them in a position to mount a title bid.

The priority for Ten Hag in the January window was to plug the gap at centre forward left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious departure last month.

They are poised to complete the loan signing of the Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, who was at loan at Turkish club Besiktas from Burnley.

But having spent over £200m on new signings last summer, further funds are not available this month, especially given the uncertainty over the club’s ownership.

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been linked with United as Ten Hag searches for a striker


Captain Harry Maguire (left) and Donny van de Beek (right) could be among the players United try and sell to raise funds this summer

If United fail to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season, they would suffer a 30 per cent or £22.5m reduction in their £75m-a-year kit deal with Adidas.

It would also affect the club’s revenues, which are forecast to be somewhere between £590m and £610m for this season, a rise from £583m in 2021-22.

That has implications given UEFA’s new financial rules, which will restrict clubs to spending 70 per cent of their total revenues on transfers, salaries and agents’ fees for players and coaches by 2025-26.

Wout Weghorst has packed his bags and looks to have played his last game for Besiktas

This is being phased in but given United’s latest financial figures showed £307m was still owed to clubs for recent player purchases, the imperative to make the Champions League and offload players for decent sums.

If pushed, Ten Hag is likely to prioritise the signing of a new striker with Kane, Osimhen and Sesko reportedly among targets being monitored.

Sesko plays for Red Bull Salzburg and is set to join sister club RB Leipzig at the end of the season – though that could change if a higher bid comes in.

The United manager is also on the look-out for a new right-back, with Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters linked with the club.  




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