Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says he refuses to be held responsible for the club's transfer dealings.
The Dutchman has sanctioned deals for the likes of Antony, Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat in recent years with little to not return on investment available.
New minority owners INEOS are looking at different ways the Red Devils can be more shrewd in the transfer market but Ten Hag says he will not take the blame.
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“The prices paid for players are indeed very high - but I am not responsible for that," began the former Ajax boss.
"The club did all the negotiations, including with very good potential players who didn't come in the end.
“So it is all a bit more nuanced than the picture that is being painted that the purchase policy is disastrous.
"It's all negative, but despite all the problems, the foundation at the club has grown stronger.
“That may not all be visible to the outside world now, but everyone internally will make that analysis.
“With talents like (Kobbie) Mainoo, (Alejandro) Garnacho, Hojlund and also someone like Amad Diallo, who has developed very strongly, the future looks bright.”
The emergence of the likes of Mainoo, Hojlund and Garnacho have all been viewed as a positive for Manchester United this season.
But with Ten Hag's future still up in the air, the club are yet to make a decision over his future.
Despite winning two trophies in two seasons, the 54-year-old recently fired back at reporters who quizzed whether they felt he had unperformed this term.
"Two trophies in two years is not bad," he said.
"Three finals in two years is not bad. I'm not satisfied with it. We have to do better.
"If they don't want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do."
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Premier League, Football
Matthew Holt