Man United 'must make Champions League' for Erik ten Hag to sign targets

Manchester United 'will have to qualify for the Champions League and sell players' if Erik ten Hag is to bring in both a midfielder and a striker this summer.

The Dutch coach wants to sign a world class striker with the likes of Harry Kane of Tottenham, Napoli's Victor Osimhen and RB Leipzig-bound Benjamin Sesko linked.

Another dominant midfielder is also needed, with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong or Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham names in the frame.

But, according to the Daily Telegraph, United will have to achieve a top four finish in the Premier League this season and offload current players to raise funds.

The likes of Harry Maguire, Fred, Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka may be put on the transfer list.

Even then, Ten Hag may have to choose between a striker or a midfielder. This could reportedly remain the case even if the Glazer family sell the club.

The report says United owe £307million in transfer fee instalments and will feel the effect of UEFA's new Financial Sustainability rules, limiting their summer transfer kitty.

Ten Hag's side are in excellent form and are at least on course for Champions League football as they are currently fourth in the table.

Positive results against second-placed Manchester City at Old Trafford this Saturday and then leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium the following weekend could put them in a position to mount a title bid.

The priority for Ten Hag in the January window was to plug the gap at centre forward left by Cristiano Ronaldo's acrimonious departure last month.

They are poised to complete the loan signing of the Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, who was at loan at Turkish club Besiktas from Burnley.

But having spent over £200m on new signings last summer, further funds are not available this month, especially given the uncertainty over the club's ownership.

If United fail to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season, they would suffer a 30 per cent or £22.5m reduction in their £75m-a-year kit deal with Adidas.

It would also affect the club's revenues, which are forecast to be somewhere between £590m and £610m for this season, a rise from £583m in 2021-22.

That has implications given UEFA's new financial rules, which will restrict clubs to spending 70 per cent of their total revenues on transfers, salaries and agents' fees for players and coaches by 2025-26.

This is being phased in but given United's latest financial figures showed £307m was still owed to clubs for recent player purchases, the imperative to make the Champions League and offload players for decent sums.

If pushed, Ten Hag is likely to prioritise the signing of a new striker with Kane, Osimhen and Sesko reportedly among targets being monitored.

Sesko plays for Red Bull Salzburg and is set to join sister club RB Leipzig at the end of the season - though that could change if a higher bid comes in.

The United manager is also on the look-out for a new right-back, with Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters linked with the club.