Ten Hag has two transfer priorities but will land them on disciplined budget

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has two priorities for the upcoming transfer window but will only action them if they fall within his disciplined budget.

The Dutch boss, 52, has asked for detailed reports on every single United player – including their holiday plans – before the squad return for pre-season training on June 27. He is then expected to perform a squad revamp and has tasked his recruitment team with prioritising a central midfielder and a new forward. Free-scoring Benfica forward Darwin Nunez is their no.1 target at the top end of the pitch.

However, the former Ajax boss has set himself a disciplined budget of £80m, plus revenue generated through player sales, and will not be held to ransom over his top targets.

The Daily, via the United Journal, report that discussions have taken place behind the scenes over a move for either Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic or Barcelona ace Frenkie de Jong – who Ten Hag previously managed at Ajax. Both players, though, would likely take up the majority of Man Utd's £80m budget and so the Red Devils are also weighing up who they can ship out the door.

United have already trimmed the wages of the squad significantly. Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Nemanja Matic, Lee Grant, Juan Mata and Paul Pogba will all leave the club on the expiration of their contracts, shedding millions from the wage bill.

Eric Bailly and Dean Henderson look the most likely to lead the mass exodus. Ivorian defender Bailly featured just seven times for the Red Devils last season and has attracted interest from a whole host of League 1 clubs.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Manchester United finish next season? Let us know in the comments section.

Henderson, 25, has had to play second fiddle to David de Gea since re-joining from his loan spell at Sheffield United and is unlikely to displace him as United's regular starting goalkeeper. The one-cap England shot-stopper is tipped to go northwards and join Eddie Howe's Tyneside revolution, in one of the first moves of the summer window.

If United are able to conjure enough funds, Ten Hag would also ideally want two new defensive acquisitions – at centre-back and right-back.

However, the Dutchman is aware of the cost outlaid in purchasing Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, who will both start next season as his regular centre-back pairing. A new full-back is of more urgent concern.

Source: Read Full Article