Erik ten Hag states he would be happy to get British players, but domestic players are more expensive than overseas acquisitions.
United have signed three players this summer: Feyenoord full-back Tyrell Malacia for £14.6 million, free agent Christian Eriksen, and Lisandro Martinez from Ten Hag’s former club Ajax for £55.3 million.
United is also interested in Ajax wingers Antony and Frenkie de Jong, who both played for Ten Hag at the Amsterdam club.
United have agreed a £71 million deal with Barcelona for De Jong, but the deal has been complicated by the Catalan club’s £17 million in deferred wages and the player’s reluctance to move to Old Trafford.
Ten Hag appears to be following a pattern, but the new United manager insists he would rather sign English players if there wasn’t a premium on homegrown talent.
I would like to sign English players because I think there is only one criteria and that’s quality in combination with the price.
It looks like English players are quite expensive. It’s a fact you cannot deny.
In the end, it’s about quality.
Ten Hag
Source: Daily Mail