Manchester United are spending quite freely as Erik ten Hag is continuing to rebuild the squad he inherited in 2022 but United’s spending power is trumped by the recent cash injection from Saudi Arabia.
Similarly to how clubs from China plundered Europe five years ago, Saudi Arabian clubs are signing some of Europe’s elite players with jaw-dropping salary packages.
United are one of many clubs to have entered talks with the leading clubs in the Saudi Pro League, having sold Alex Telles to Al-Nassr earlier this summer.
Telles will reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, having spent the 2021/22 season with the Portuguese forward at Old Trafford.
Speaking recently, Ten Hag has admitted that although Saudi’s spending could affect some clubs in Europe, he is now worried that they will be able to challenge Premier League clubs.
“I think in Europe it has an effect because there is some money over there and it will attract players,” Ten Hag is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.
“But I don’t see it in this moment as a problem for the Premier League because the Premier League is the league where the big players want to play. That is not in competition with a league like America or Saudi Arabia.”
United have landed all of their prime targets so far this summer, with Mason Mount and Andre Onana added to the squad so far. Rasmus Hojlund, the Atalanta and Denmark forward, is poised to become United’s third signing of the summer after he flew into Manchester for a medical.
Jonny Evans could also sign for the club on a permanent deal after taking part in pre-season games. The Northern Ireland hero has been without a club after leaving Leicester at the end of last season.
