Erik ten Hag warns next Man Utd owners against Todd Boehly-like transfer splurge

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has warned the next owners of the club over a spending spree similar to the one sanctioned by Todd Boehly and other Chelsea chiefs this season.

The Blues have spent over £500 million during the campaign on marquee signings such as Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella, but that spending is yet to yield any results.

Chelsea have been through three managers this season, with Frank Lampard set to be replaced at the end of the campaign when his interim spell in charge ends.

And they sit in 12th place on 43 points with two games left to play, and will not play in Europe next season.

Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be appointed as the club's new manager, but the extent of spending levels under the Argentinian remains to be seen.

And Ten Hag has warned United's future owners, if a takeover is successful, to have a clear strategy in place this summer instead of simply spending big money - as Chelsea have done under co-owner Boehly.

Ten Hag on United spending

The takeover process at United is still ongoing, with The Independent reporting on Wednesday that there could be a major update on its potential outcome within the following 48 hours.

Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim, through his Nine Two Foundation, and the joint proposal from petrochemicals company INEOS and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe are battling to become the next owner of United, taking over from the Glazer family.

But Ten Hag has sent them a warning over any potential transfer strategy should either bid be successful.

Speaking ahead of United's Premier League clash against Chelsea on Thursday, the Dutchman said (quotes via Manchester Evening News): "In this moment, [there is] a centralisation of good players, of the best managers, also about the money - it's all here in the UK.

"That makes a great competition but also a tough and a hard competition.

"You have to do the right things, you can have money but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way and you need to have a strategy behind it. Otherwise, the money doesn't work. When there is no strategy or the right strategy, money doesn't work.

"I think there are many more teams in the Premier League who are really strong. Talking about Aston Villa, talking about Brighton, talking about Brentford, I think there are many more teams who are really strong and tough and it is not only those top six clubs."