Transfer Centre

Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'gives green light for Erik ten Hag to spend in January'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 14 November 2023

Ratcliffe 'gives green light for Ten Hag to spend in January'

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to back Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag with transfer funds in January, according to a report.

Manchester United will reportedly be active during the January transfer window, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepared to make funds available to improve the squad.

Ratcliffe is preparing to purchase 25% of the 20-time English champions in a deal worth around £1.3bn, and the founder and owner of the INEOS Group is expected to take over football operations at the club.

The 71-year-old's arrival is set to be confirmed before the team's next match against Everton on November 26, and according to The Sun, it has been made clear to head coach Erik ten Hag that funds will be made available during the winter market to boost the squad.

The report claims that a full-back and a forward will be targeted, with the team currently short in both of those areas due to injuries and other unforeseen problems.

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia could both be back by January, which would ease the team's issues at left-back, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka continues to struggle to be available on a consistent basis, while Sergio Reguilon is only on loan at the club from Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured before the match on November 4, 2023 © Reuters

A forward is seen as the most pressing target in January, with the club determined to ease the burden on Rasmus Hojlund, who picked up a muscle strain against Luton Town on Saturday afternoon.

Hojlund has scored five times in the Champions League this season, but he is yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League, while his back-up, Anthony Martial, has just one goal in all competitions.

The Red Devils are an attacker down, meanwhile, as Jadon Sancho has not been involved since the end of August due to his falling-out with Ten Hag, which is likely to lead to him leaving in January.

There have also been claims that serious offers for Martial would be listened to in the winter market, with the Frenchman's contract at Old Trafford due to expire at the end of June.

FC Porto's Mehdi Taremi celebrates scoring their first goal on September 15, 2023 © Reuters

Porto's Mehdi Taremi has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but it is believed that the club are looking for a forward who is also capable of playing as a winger.

Federico Chiesa would fit that bill, and the Italy international is currently being linked with a move away from Juventus, with Man United said to be among his admirers.

Ten Hag is allegedly 'convinced' that the Red Devils can still claim a top-four spot in the Premier League table this term despite their early-season struggles.

Man United have actually now won four of their last five Premier League matches, which has left them in sixth position in the division, only five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The Red Devils were recently knocked out of the EFL Cup by Newcastle United, but they can still qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League despite losing three of their four matches in Group A.