Man Utd's lack of transfer funds exposed as board faces awkward Erik ten Hag questions

Teddy Sheringham has told Manchester United’s board there's questions to be answered for backing Erik ten Hag and his sub-par transfer policy.

Coming into the summer window, the since-departed Dutchman was shown faith with a contract extension despite an all-time worst Premier League finish last term, and he received a generous budget to boot. His FA Cup triumph had appeared to earn him enough credit in the bank, albeit with replacement options sounded out beforehand.

Over £180million was spent by the club's hierarchy, spearheaded by new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, on five first-team players, including those who Ten Hag was familiar with and pushed for such as ex-Ajax aces Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

However, the Red Devils’ mediocre start to the campaign wasn't particularly helped by the new recruits and saw the 54-year-old sacked. Now, with Ruben Amorim installed and a new identity waiting to be formed, United’s board may have dried up funds when chucking money at Ten Hag, according to Sheringham, and will have some questions to face in the coming months.

"It's good in the fact that the United directors backed their man and gave him money to make signings, but it was so evident from the outside that Ten Hag wasn’t up to the job," Sheringham, who played over 150 times for United, told Best Offshore Sportsbooks.

"It was like, ‘What are you doing? Why are you giving this man more money to spend?’ He's already wasted a lot of money on players. He's bought a lot of players that are like, ‘Oh, that's a few quid. Yeah, I'll go and play for Man United. That'll do'.

"There’s a big difference between wearing the shirt with pride and just nicking a few quid because someone's paid out a lot of money for you. We’ve had too many players turning up at United thinking that’s that. I’ve made it. That’s not good enough for the standards of Manchester United."

One man who has revealed he won’t be resting on his laurels in Manchester is new boss Amorim, who stated in his first interview as manager: "I know that the manager or head coach is so important in the club because you have in your hands the engine of the club. I understand that, but I want to be part of something. I don't want to be just in charge."

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Amorim's first game at the helm will be on Sunday away at Ipswich Town, who claimed the scalp of Tottenham Hotspur last time out. Yet the 39-year-old feels his young squad, who will take some time to adapt from the ways of the ousted Ten Hag, are up for the challenge of turning around their fortunes.

"They are prepared," Amorim added. "They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for Manchester United. But we have to start from day one without fear, without thinking that they are not used to playing like this. This is not on my mind. They will start on the first day with our idea, no matter what."

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