Erik ten Hag says he wants to sign Jude Bellingham then asks fan if they have 'pennies for him'

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag asked for "some pennies" when fans suggested an ambitious double-swoop for Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.

The Premier League outfit forked out £200 million in the summer to recruit Antony, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia.

It was an expensive window for chief executive Richard Arnold, director of football John Murtough and manager Erik ten Hag, who has been handed a far smaller war chest for January.

In fact, it appears the club are exploring a loan deal for Burnley forward Wout Weghorst in a bid to provide attacking cover for Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Personality has been a big thing for Erik ten Hag + you could say Weghorst showed that in spat with Messi. He didn’t get many goals at Burnley but his record in Turkey is good + he scored one of the best goals at World Cup.

First call @Santi_J_FM #MUFChttps://t.co/t9cUqEFmSc

— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) January 7, 2023

With a lack of funds behind United this January, a fan decided to ask Erik ten Hag to splash the cash with moves for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham and PSG forward Kylian Mbappe.

As he sat in his car outside United's training ground, the Dutch manager was signing autographs for supporters when the question was posed to him.

"Do you think you're going to sign Jude Bellingham," asked one keen fan. Ten Hag hit back: "I want to, but..."

After another fan chipped in by saying he should bring in World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, the United boss said: "Do you have some pennies for me?"

Back in December, as the club continued to be linked with Cody Gakpo, who eventually joined rivals Liverpool, Ten Hag confirmed his ambitions to sign a striker following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Two things," he said. "Impulse can come out of our own club, see Garnacho, see Elanga, see Pellistri, who made a good impression at the World Cup and also in training. That is first.

"Second, yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one.

"The right one is a player that brings quality to the team, not just adding to the squad because that only gives you problems. And, you know the criteria is high here at Manchester United."

On the subject of transfers, Manchester United could struggle to bring in big names in the future after a squad-wide salary cap was reported.

According to The Daily Mail, salaries at Old Trafford will be capped at £200,000-a-week, with senior players like Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes being in the same pay bracket.

Gary Neville commented on the reports, saying: "Not sure why any radical new policy is being introduced if new owners are imminent."

He added: "Capping wages is a radical policy. Rules out Rice, Bellingham and others in that bracket. Any new owners would probably want to enter the running for these types and probably Mbappe as well."