MANCHESTER UNITED fans will not have been the only ones celebrating the Glazers’ decision to sell up.
Erik ten Hag is likely to also have been rubbing his hands in glee — albeit in a far quieter fashion.
Not that the manager would ever suggest he wants to see the backs of his employers.
His happiness this Christmas will be about being certain he can barge back into the market in January — and keep buying beyond next month.
Ten Hag is confident controlling owners Joel and Avram Glazer will continue to stand by what they said as they made him the Man Utd boss.
But there could be even more cash to splash.
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And whether the Glazers get the £6-9BILLION they want to sell out or simply bring in major new investment, it will be win-win for Ten Hag.
The Dutchman said: “I don’t speak to them that often. But I’ve met them and we spoke about how we will work together and how we are going to achieve our objectives.”
His No 1 objective is to end United’s Premier League title drought that stretches back to 2013.
Having spent almost £230million after arriving in July, Ten Hag knows there is still a chasm between United and the “noisy neighbours” at the Etihad.
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Then there is a clutch of others such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and the growing force of Newcastle.
Ten Hag said: “I look at the competition around the Premier League, they all have the opportunity to invest. It’s a tough competition between seven or eight clubs.
“That’s a change in circumstances when you compare with five or ten years ago, so the competition is much tougher.
“Newcastle are coming, even West Ham. They have huge investment.
“Spurs definitely and then City and Liverpool. I don’t need to talk about them. Chelsea, I don’t need to talk about them.
“Quickly count seven or eight clubs that can compete in the league. Even at the bottom I don’t see weak teams — they’re all strong. It’s also about strategy, not just money.”
Global giants Amazon are considering buying the club, while Apple could take a bite out of the Theatre of Dreams.
Oldham-born chemicals magnate Sir Jim Ratcliffe — a lifelong United fan and worth a staggering £11bn — is also interested following a vain late bid to beat Todd Boehly to his £4.25bn capture of Chelsea.
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Any sale or investment at United is being overseen by The Raine Group, who conducted the Stamford Bridge business.
Ten Hag was assured the Glazers would keep their word by him when CEO Richard Arnold informed the ex-Ajax coach of their decision last month to “explore strategic alternatives to enhance the club’s growth”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
