Manchester United Transfer Budget Is Just £100 Million And Frenkie De Jong Will Take Up Most Of It

Erik ten Hag's transfer budget at Manchester United isn't as much as initially expected, with Frenkie de Jong's move from Barcelona set to take most of the funds.

It's no secret just how bad a situation Ten Hag finds his new team, having joined once last season's Premier League campaign had finished.

The team finished a dismal sixth, 13 points off Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place, and an embarrassing 35 points off champions, and local rivals, Manchester City.

Things haven't really started well for the new boss in his attempts to make his team better, which has reportedly made Cristiano Ronaldo anxious about the direction of the club.

Some good news seemed to come in the shape of CEO Richard Arnold telling a group of fans that money 'was not a consideration' when it came to new incomings, but that might not actually be the case.

According to the Sun, Ten Hag has only been given an initial budget of £100 million, which means the deal to sign De Jong will take up a big chunk, as he's expected to cost around £68 million.

De Jong is expected to be at United soon. Image: Alamy

The Barcelona midfielder has been the new boss' number one target since he agreed to move to Old Trafford, having worked with him previously at Ajax.

With Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic having left the club already this summer, it makes sense that the new manager would want a midfielder.

However, there's also clearly more positions in the team that need strengthening and the remaining £30 million isn't likely to help them enough.

A forward is next on the 52-year-old's priority list and going back to his former side is expected, with Antony fancied by the Dutchman, but Ajax wanting a similar price that United are to spend on De Jong.

Ten Hag can increase his budget with departures, and Eric Bailly and Anthony Martial are amongst those who could leave, but those sales will delay any incomings.

Martial could be sold in order to bring in funds for Ten Hag. Image: Alamy

With the disliked owners, the Glazers, already having taken £11 million out of the club in recent days, the news about a lower budget will not go down well.

Fans are planning on protesting the Americans once again, this time when the new manager gets his first taste of Old Trafford, at a pre season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.