Incoming new Manchester United boss is all primed and ready to be handed a massive £120-million transfer budget to overhaul the side in summer, with probably even more after some current players have been taken off the books, according to reports.
The 52-year-old Ajax manager was confirmed on Thursday morning as the club’s new manager upon accepting a three-year deal with option of an additional year to replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick when the season ends.
It is almost an understatement to say the Dutchman will be having a lot on his hands as he faces a near-Herculean challenge at Old Trafford inheriting a floundering side who had undergone numerous questionable evolutions under the hands of an equally questionable succession of managers, resulting in an unholy mess as the club gear for a fifth season without silverware while having currently slipped to sixth in the race for the top four.
Paul Pogba is one of four players whose United contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, with many at United most happy to see him taken off the books. Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are also amont those with contracts ending this June and look set to leave the club alongside the Frenchman.
Besides Nemanja Matic who has announced that this will be his final season at Old Trafford, others with doubts over their future at the club are Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial and Andreas Pereira.
The recruitment team have reportedly already held talks with Ten Hag – who, like his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will have a veto on all signings – and Ajax winger Antony is said to be among the targets.
The Brazilian could be available for around £50million and impressed in the Eredivisie this season, registering eight goals and four assists.
Another of Ten Hag’s Ajax stars, Lisandro Martinez, and Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt have also been linked.
In midfield, Kalvin Phillips is viewed as an alternative to West Ham’s Declan Rice, whose £150million price tag is believed to have deterred United.
United chose the Dutch manager for his reputation for improving players and there is hope at the club that he can reignite their underperforming stars.
Bruno Fernandes, David de Gea and Raphael Varane are reportedly considered world class by United and the club could look to build their new look side around them.
Meanwhile, there is reportedly belief that Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay will be hitting their peak, while Jadon Sancho could develop into another star under Ten Hag.
The club also believe that Ten Hag can nature the talents of Anthony Elanga, Alejandro Garnacho and Hannibal Mejbri – who was the only player to earn praise for his performance against Liverpool on Tuesday.