Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag told how to spend money after potential Cristiano Ronaldo transfer

Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has told Erik ten Hag that if Cristiano Ronaldo is sold, he should use the money to bring in players who would "die" for him.

Ten Hag handed Ronaldo the captain's armband for United's 3-1 defeat at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon, as former Arsenal manager Unai Emery put a stop to the club's nine-game unbeaten run. The hosts stunned the Reds with their fast start, scoring two goals inside the opening 11 minutes, before eventually adding a third just four minutes into the second half.

Ronaldo led the line for United, and although the clash with Tyrone Mings showed he still has plenty of fight left in him, it was an overall lacklustre performance from the 37-year-old. The dust appears to have well and truly settled following the fallout after the Tottenham victory, but Ten Hag still has a decision to make regarding the future of the former Real Madrid man.

Sheringham thinks it is an easy decision that faces the United manager, as he called for Ten Hag to sell Ronaldo and invest the money towards players that will give their all to the cause.

He told Genting Casino : "Ronaldo made it clear he wasn’t happy in the summer and if you’ve got a superstar who’s unhappy then you have to let him go.

"It looks like he’s unhappy, he’s not firing on all cylinders and I know he got the captaincy the other day but that looked like an olive leaf from the manager.

"If you’ve got a superstar who’s unhappy, get rid of him and use the money to get players you know will die for you as a manager."