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Ben AshtonPublished Aug 2, 2024, 5:49pm|Updated Aug 2, 2024, 5:50pm
Erik ten Hag has warned Manchester United might not be able to afford to buy more players in the transfer window after suffering yet another major injury blow.
Marcus Rashford and Antony both limped off in the 3-2 pre-season victory over Real Betis in San Diego, USA, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Just days before in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Arsenal, £52million signing Leny Yoro was ruled out for up to three months with a broken foot and Rasmus Hojlund was sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
It leaves United at risk of being without multiple key first-team players with the start of the Premier League season looming.
But Ten Hag says it isn’t as straightforward as just dipping into the transfer market to strengthen the squad due to financial fair play (FFP) rules.
‘Every club has those limitations,’ the United manager said when asked about any more incomings this summer.
‘The FFP rules for every club is there. Also, we have to manage this and go with those rules.
‘We have to manage it as good as possible to construct the best squad possible.’
United have been heavily linked with moves for centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and right back Noussair Mazraoui but a joint bid for the Bayern Munich duo was reportedly rejected by the German giants.
With a deal for De Ligt in particular stalling and Raphael Varane leaving the club, the Red Devils are short on options at the heart of the defence.
Lisandro Martinez is set to start against Liverpool on Sunday and Ten Hag added: ‘Of course we have a plan for every individual where they have to show up and that plan is now running.
‘We know every player where they are fitness-wise and next week we have to bring everything together.’
The United boss will be hoping they can come to an agreement with Bayern for De Ligt and Mazraoui, who have reportedly both been told they are surplus to requirements this season under new boss Vincent Kompany.
However, Bayern have told United they will need to submit a ‘higher fee’ to sign them, according to The Athletic, which might prove to be a sticking point given the FFP concerns raised by Ten Hag.
Bayern want around £42m for De Ligt and are looking for somewhere in the region of £13m for Mazraoui, who is said to have already agreed personal terms.
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