Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to complete a radical overhaul of Manchester United‘s football department are set to be welcomed by Erik ten Hag as part of his desire to raise standards at the club.
United sources have told Mail Sport that the manager has shown signs of frustration at the club’s recruitment during his 18 months in charge, with a lack of clarity over targets and budgets, limited data and a habit of over-paying for players particular causes of concern for many at Old Trafford.
It is not clear whether Ten Hag has spoken to Ratcliffe or received any reassurances over his future due to the strict rules governing the takeover process, but sources at Ineos have indicated that the manager will be retained despite United’s poor start to the season, with the new investors viewing an extensive injury list as a major mitigating factor.
While there has been no contact in recent months it is understood that Ten Hag and Ratcliffe have a pre-existing relationship due to the latter’s ownership of Nice, and they also bumped into each other at United’s Carrington training ground when the British billionaire was given a tour of the club’s facilities in March.
Ten Hag is likely to be enthusiastic about Ratcliffe’s proposed investment, with his £1.3billion offer expected to be ratified at a Board meeting on Thursday, due to Ineos’ track record in raising standards in football, cycling and sailing.
Man United boss Erik ten Hag (left) is set to welcome Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to overhaul the club’s football department
The Dutchman has been left frustrated by the club’s recruitment, including a lack of clarity over budgets and targets
The former Ajax manager is a also a cycling fan who in his eagerness to learn from invited the sporting director of Dutch team Jumbo-Visma Merijn Zeeman to United’s winter training camp last season.
While Ten Hag has been backed in the transfer market at United others at the club have misgivings about how their business is conducted. United’s transfer budgets for the last two summers have not been clear from the outset, leading to confusion internally about which players to target.
Having initially been given a figure of £60million by the Glazer family, which was largely accounted for by the £55m signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea in July, United ended up spending £180m on six new players.
With no clear budget in place the transfer fee United offered Atalanta for Rasmus Hojlund also increased from £50m to £72m in their final meeting with the Italian club. United are confident that their recruitment set-up has improved in recent years since the appointment as football director of John Murtough, who has developed a close working relationship with Ten Hag over the last 18 months.
United are confident that their recruitment set-up has improved in recent years since the appointment as football director of John Murtough, who works closely with Ten Hag.
Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion offer expected to be ratified at a Board meeting on Thursday
