Erik ten Hag has repeatedly emphasized that Manchester United needs to acquire a world-class "number 9," but despite having a list full of big names, the Red Devils have not made any significant progress in restructuring their attacking line.
Last summer, Ten Hag was granted over £220 million for player purchases. However, by this summer of 2023, the budget will only be £120 million, including money from player sales, despite the team's return to the Champions League.
This is a consequence of the instability in Manchester United's upper management, as the ownership transition has lasted nearly half a year without showing signs of completion. Up until now, MU fans are unsure whether Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, or even the Glazer family will be the new owners of Old Trafford.
With such an unstable foundation, Manchester United's ability to negotiate with world-class stars is uncertain. Several experts have warned for months that the delayed transition would directly impact MU's transfer plans, and the reality has proven to be true.
At present, Ten Hag's squad has many concerns. David de Gea's contract has expired, and MU needs a new goalkeeper. The pursuit of Mason Mount from Chelsea has made some progress, but the final price has yet to be determined. As a result, the priority of adding a new striker has been pushed back.
Manchester United, once in a position of control, now finds themselves in a state of waiting, which could lead to the risk of being left behind. Specifically, Harry Kane remains the top target for the Red Devils. However, after hearing Daniel Levy's demand of £100 million for a player entering his thirties next month and with only one year left on his contract, MU immediately withdrew from negotiations. The amount MU could offer is significantly lower, around £80 million, and at this point, Old Trafford will not accept unreasonable prices unless Levy has a change of heart – an unlikely scenario – for MU to continue pursuing Kane.
MU faces a similar situation with Napoli. Chairman De Laurentiis, as tough as Levy, has set a price of £120 million for Victor Osimhen. Obviously, Osimhen, who is six years younger than Kane, lacks the same level of reliability as he has no experience playing in England. Additionally, with their current financial capability, the Red Devils cannot afford Osimhen, even with additional players included in the deal.
Rasmus Hojlund is also a hot name in the market right now. However, once again, the £86 million price tag set by Atalanta for the 20-year-old player has made MU hesitant. Randal Kolo Muani, Goncalo Ramos, and Dusan Vlahovic have also only generated interest from MU, with no significant progress in negotiations.
Clearly, spending excessive amounts of money in the past, including cases where the transfer fees exceeded the players' true value, has created a negative precedent for Manchester United. Potential partners see them as a "golden egg-laying hen," leading to discounted offers that put MU at a disadvantageous position. This situation cannot be resolved overnight, unless the team completes the ownership transition and the new owners immediately inject significant funds for transfers. However, as mentioned before, no one knows when Manchester United will have new owners!
