Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly been particularly impressed by four players since making his initial assessment of the club’s playing squad. As a result, the INEOS chief feels there is plenty for Erik ten Hag to work with at Old Trafford and a drastic summer overhaul is not expected.
The Red Devils spent heavily on Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana during the summer, as well as several other low-cost and loan arrivals. The start of this season was a turbulent one, but a number of players are now displaying their best form under Ten Hag.
According to The Daily Mail, Sir Jim and his team of INEOS specialists have been ‘enthused’ by the performances of Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Diogo Dalot since their part-ownership deal was made public.
All four players have further experience to gain and aspects of their game to improve, which should stand Ten Hag’s squad in good stead for years to come. As such, Sir Jim is reportedly against the idea of tearing down the spine of United’s team and starting from scratch.
United’s incoming investors, who will hold a minority stake but control over the club’s sporting operations, are believed to be keen on adding strength in attack and defence. But a frivolous spending spree is not in the pipeline.
Of the players to have caught Sir Jim’s eye, Hojlund has come on strong in recent weeks after making a slow start to life at Old Trafford. The 21-year-old signed from Atalanta during the summer in an eyebrow-raising £72million deal.
Dalot, 24, is older than the aforementioned trio, but his versatility has come up trumps for Ten Hag as defensive injury issues continue to wreak havoc this season.
United’s recruitment department could be set for a behind-the-scenes reshuffle after years of limited transfer success, with Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth believed to be at the top of Sir Jim’s hit list.
