Erik ten Hag unsure of size of Manchester United's summer transfer budget

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has admitted that he does not know how much money will be available for new signings during this summer's transfer window.

The Dutchman has overseen a successful first season at the helm, with the Red Devils ending their six-year trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup at the end of February.

Man United are also in the final of the FA Cup at the start of June, while they are fourth in the Premier League table and on course to return to the Champions League for the 2023-24 campaign.

There is currently huge uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the club, though, with the Glazer family in talks over a sale.

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe have both made offers for the club, but there have been suggestions that the Glazers could ultimately decide to stay as the owners.

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Speaking ahead of Thursday's Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion, Ten Hag conceded that he has no idea how much money could be available this summer.

"No, I don't have influence on that, I don't have and also I don't know. The only thing I know is that Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, one of the biggest two or three from a fanbase perspective," The Mirror quotes Ten Hag as saying.

"The club has to compete for the highest in the world - the Champions League and Premier League. But in football you need funds to construct squads because, at the end of the day, the level of your players decides if you are successful or not.

"Everyone knows you need funds to construct a squad and high level players cost a lot of money. That's the situation nowadays in top football.

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"I think it's clear what I want, but it's not up to me. It's about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions, it's not up to me. I do everything I can and I influence the processes that I'm in charge of.

"Where I can take my influence, I will do, in terms of processes, but that is not my job or responsibility, so I don't have the power to influence that. I'm focusing on improving the squad, the team development, so I have to make sure the team is progressing and I'm focusing on that."

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane is said to be Man United's leading target in the final third of the field, with a new centre-forward believed to be the club's priority.

However, it has also been claimed that Sheikh Jassim would want to move for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe if he completed a takeover of the club.

A new goalkeeper, right-back, centre-back and central midfielder could also arrive as part of a squad overhaul this summer, with a number of players also set to move on.