Man United make surprise request ahead of summer transfer window

Struggling Manchester United have made a surprise request ahead of the upcoming transfer window, instructing their agents to source players who will be available for free. 

The Red Devils are set for a summer overhaul, with Erik ten Hag replacing interim boss Ralf Rangnick at the helm, and a number of the club’s current crop of players set to make way.

Several first team players are set to be out of contract and will leave the club this summer, most notably Paul Pogba, although it appears that United fans shouldn’t be getting too excited about potential incomings.

As per The Sun, Ten Hag will have a modest budget to sign new recruits, despite the Dutchman stating that the club could need as many as ten new faces to become competitive once again.

The report claims that the Ajax boss will be given a budget of around £100 million when he arrives in Manchester, a figure that will fall short of funding a complete squad overhaul.

Ousmane Dembele is one of several high profile players set to be out of contract this summer

That figure is also insignificant compared to the £1 billion that the club have spent since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013.

It is also claimed that factors such as failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League and the impact of Covid have hindered United’s spending power.

The club’s new chief executive, Richard Arnold, is set to oversee huge change in a number of areas at United in the coming months and years, especially in the scouting department.

United will not be short of options in terms of free agents this summer, with the likes of Paulo Dybala, Ousmane Dembele and Franck Kessie all set to depart their respective clubs when their contracts expire.

Given United’s failure to reach the top four, though, it may prove more difficult for the club to attract players of that calibre.