Manchester United director John Murtough says Erik ten Hag will continue to be backed in the transfer market but warned there is unlikely to be “the same level of activity in future windows’.
United spent a club record £220m this summer as Antony, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Martin Dubravka all arrived at Old Trafford.
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A report has suggested that Ten Hag would be handed a further £70m in January, which could rise to £100m through player sales, to continue his squad revamp, but Murtough has dampened the hopes of United fans having claimed the summer dealings have put the club ‘ahead of schedule’.
“During the summer, we made significant investment in the first team squad with the permanent addition of five regular starters, including a balance of experienced international players and younger, emerging talent,” he said, via the Daily Mail.
“We also saw a higher-than-usual number of departures, and this was an equally important part of refreshing the squad after the disappointing 2021-22 season.
“We will continue to support Erik in ensuring he has players with the right quality and characters to achieve success, while ensuring that investment remains consistent with our commitment to financial sustainability.
“Overall, we are ahead of schedule in our recruitment plans as envisaged at the start of the summer, and we do not anticipate the same level of activity in future windows. As always, our planning focuses on the summer window.”
Murtough then praised Ten Hag for the impact he’s already had in his short time at the club, giving himself a pat on the back in the process.
He added: “After a thorough search and due diligence process it was clear to us that Erik was the strongest candidate, based on his outstanding coaching record, his commitment to the proactive, attacking football we want to play, and the vision and ambition he showed for the role.
‘There is still a long way to go, but we have already seen, during his first four months in charge, an increased unity, focus and drive that bodes well for the future.”
