Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has conceded that the club's absence from next season's Champions League "will have an impact" on the transfer plans at Old Trafford this summer.
The Red Devils finished third in Ten Hag's first campaign at the helm to secure a return to the Champions League for the current season, but the team will not operate in the competition next term.
The 20-time English champions are instead battling to make the Europa League, and Ten Hag has admitted that the team's absence from Europe's leading competition next season will throw up hurdles in the transfer market.
However, the Dutchman, who remains under pressure when it comes to his job, is confident that Man United will always be able to attract top-level players to Old Trafford.
"Definitely [no Champions League football] will have an impact on the budget but I'm sure Manchester United is a very attractive team and club to play for. Many players will be very pleased and happy to play for Manchester United, I'm sure," he said during his press conference on Thursday.
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Man United will not play in the Champions League next season
Ten Hag also said that the club will make "new improvements" this summer, with at least three major signings expected to arrive at the end of the campaign.
"Always a lot of work, it's normal. And it is normal when you go into a transfer window but the injuries had a big impact," he added.
"We know also we are still below the levels from the expectations that Manchester United has so we have to catch up and I'm now going into my fifth window, two windows were quite okay, two we missed.
"We have to make new improvements this summer. But there is a base in this squad that is very good and the injuries had a big impact on our season."
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Erik ten Hag firmly denies recent transfer stories
Ten Hag also firmly denied claims that almost all of Man United's first-team squad are up for sale this summer, with a recent report suggesting that only Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund were untransferable.
"It's a joke," Ten Hag added. "As long as I've worked, every summer, every window, I think 200 players are getting interest from Manchester United.
"We did some research which was untrue and also every summer we sell all of the players in our squad, which you make all of the headlines which are untrue.
"Be calm and take some responsibility when you make such a headline. Find a good source if there is some truth in it."
Man United will be bidding to return to winning ways when they head to Crystal Palace in the league on Monday evening, but the club could be without the services of their captain Bruno Fernandes.
Matt Law
