Erik ten Hag has defended Manchester United‘s record summer transfer spend by insisting it was the only way they could compete for a place in the top four this season.
The Dutchman has overseen a outlay of more than £220 million — the most the club have ever spent in a single window — to bring in Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka.
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Ten Hag says the huge budget does not bring with it more pressure to deliver immediate success and believes the spending was necessary to improve a squad which finished sixth in the Premier League last season.
“If you want to compete at the top, you don’t have a choice,” Ten Hag told a news conference on Wednesday.
“All the clubs spent this kind of money. If you want to fight for the top four positions you have to do it.
“We have the ambition, especially in the long term, to play for trophies. We had to do this, I think.
“Last season, the benchmark was only five transfers above £60m and I don’t know how many now.”
