Manchester United face a clearout of up to a dozen players, two of their leading scouts will depart the club in the coming weeks and interim head coach Ralf Rangnick’s assertion that they are “two or three” transfer windows away from competing with Liverpool and Manchester City is being viewed as wildly optimistic.
But their latest summer of upheaval will be ameliorated by relaxed spending rules and the fact their off-field status has not been significantly diminished during a five-year trophy drought.
Erik ten Hag is expected to be confirmed as the club’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and the club spiralled from being the champions of England to one struggling to finish fourth. As revealed by Mirror Football, United’s players have already been told that a deal with Ten Hag to take over next season has been agreed.
