Gary Neville believes Erik ten Hag could be on a collision course with any prospective new owners in the transfer market if a Manchester United takeover comes to fruition.
The Glazer family, who purchased the club back in 2005, confirmed that they were putting United on the market in November and have authorised the Raine Group to oversee the process. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is heading up a group who are aiming to complete a full-scale buy-out, while INEOS chief and lifelong Manchester United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also tabled a bid for the club.
Both groups submitted proposals before February's soft deadline, however speculation has risen that the Glazers could decide to remain at the helm has grown in recent days after Avram Glazer attended Sunday's Carabao Cup final. Indeed, other potential investors are looking into the possibility of taking minority stakes.
If a full takeover does take place however, then Neville has predicted that any new owner will want to make a splash in the transfer market with a marquee summer signing.
However, Neville is adamant that approach will not suit Ten Hag, who he believes is more likely to have identified "younger, hungrier" players as he looks to build on what has, to this point, been an impressive debut season in the Old Trafford dugout.
Speaking on The Overlap about the takeover and Manchester United's summer plans, Neville said: "I feel like Ten Hag is not going to sign [marquee names]. If new owners come in they’re going to want to make a statement, they’ll want to blow the transfer market open. I don’t think that will suit him.
"I think he’ll want those younger, hungrier ones that have still got that growth rather than the finished article. Casemiro obviously defeats that a little bit, but you look at Antony and Lisandro Martinez : they’re younger and hungrier. I think that’s the type of player he’ll want to add to this squad rather than saying, 'Oh, Kylian Mbappe’s available or so-and-so is available'."
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A new No.9 is expected to be at the top of Ten Hag's summer wishlist, with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen both believed to be on United's radar.
Neville believes that Kane would an instant hit at the club and a resounding success - but warned that the 30-year-old may not appeal to Ten Hag as he would essentially be a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
He added: "You know something, I’ve worked with him [Kane] and you watch him. He will score 30 goals, he will get 10-15 assists, and that is an absolute fact.
"He’s a professional, the dressing room will love him, he’ll fit in straight away and he’s a guarantee for Manchester United. But if he’s going to cost £150million and he’s 30, then it’s a short-lived [signing]."
