There’s another guess at the size of war chest Erik ten Hag will be given at Man Utd, who could confirm the Dutchman’s appointment in the coming hours…
TEN HAG ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT
Thursday might be #WelcomeErik day at Manchester United, according to the Daily Telegraph, which reports that confirmation of Ten Hag’s appointment as the next sucker in the Old Trafford hot-seat could be rushed out by the end of the day.
Fabrizio Romano had a similar line in the wee small hours, with full agreement on a three-year contract with the option of an additional 12 months now reached, and only the final sign-off from Ajax – a formality – was now required.
The Telegraph also mentions that Ralf Rangnick has no intention of walking away before the end of the season, which no one really suggested he might, but you would understand completely if the German was tempted.
MAN UTD’S £200M WAR CHEST
What will Ten Hag find when he arrives at Old Trafford, other than the burnt-out remains of a once-great football club?
To begin the rebuild, the Daily Mirror says the new manager will be given £200million to spend on new players, after Rangnick suggested the Red Devils might need as many as ‘six, eight, ten’ recruits.
The story doesn’t pinpoint any specifics beyond that, other than to suggest that Darwin Nunes and Ruben Neves may be targets.
Rangnick’s ten-man shortlist on Man Utd’s £20m budget
NKUNKU WAITS ON UNITED’S FATE
Christopher Nkunku has been linked with United, especially following the appointment of Rangnick, who worked with the versatile attacking player at RB Leipzig.
Fichajes suggests the Red Devils are indeed keen on the 24-year-old, but reports elsewhere say any United move would hinge on them finishing in the top four. Which, unbelievably, is still possible, but the chances of these Red Devils putting a string of wins together in their final five matches appear extremely remote.
Arsenal appear more likely to secure a Champions League spot, especially in the wake of their win at Chelsea, while Inter Milan are also credited with an interest.
POGBA COULD STAY IN PREM
It was reported yesterday that it appears increasingly likely that Paul Pogba will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. News which was greeted by a flood of transit offers from United fans.
Where next for Paul and his poorly calf? Sky Sports says Real Madrid and Juventus are still interested, which is what Mino Raiola needs us all to believe.
But the prospect of staying in the Premier League is yet to be ruled out. Which begs the question: which club here would take the Frenchman on the kind of salary Raiola is fishing for?
VILLA IN FOR MARSEILLE MIDFIELDER
Other reports this week have suggested that Ten Hag’s transfer war chest could be far weenier than the £200million suggested earlier.
One of the players who might fit into a budget even a tenth of that size is Boubacar Kamara. The Marseille midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and looks set to spark a scramble for his signature.
Aston Villa, though, are also sniffing around Kamara, with RMC Sport among the outlets to have spotted Steven Gerrard, Christian Purslow and Johan Lange in attendance at OM’s clash with Nantes last night.
Gerrard has clocked up the mileage in recent weeks as he searches for a central midfielder, with the trip to watch Kamara following scouting missions to view Atletico’s Geoffrey Kondogbia and PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare.
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