Man Utd manager confirms Neymar interest, says club may become another Chelsea
United need one point from their remaining games at home to Chelsea and Fulham to finish in the top four
Dutch coach Erik ten Hag has warned that Manchester United could go backwards like Chelsea if the money from a takeover isn't spent in 'a smart way'.
Ten Hag has been promised more spending power once the Glazer family decide whether to sell to Jim Ratcliffe or Qatari billionaire Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
However, Chelsea have struggled since a consortium led by Todd Boehly bought out Roman Abramovich for £ 4.25 billion, despite blowing almost £ 600 million on new players.
The Londoners lie in 12th place going into their clash with United at Old Trafford Thursday night when Ten Hag's side hope to secure Champions League qualification.
Asked if Chelsea are an example of how a takeover can cause difficulties, Ten Hag replied: 'Absolutely, yes. When there is no strategy behind it, or the right strategy, money doesn't work.
'In this moment, let's say there is a centralisation of good players, of the best managers, also of the money, it is 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 spend it in a smart way. Also, you need a strategy behind it because, otherwise, the money doesn't work.'
United need one point from their remaining games at home to Chelsea and Fulham to finish in the top four ahead of Liverpool before taking on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The Man United boss also refused to rule out a move for Neymar Jnr after reports linked him to the club this week
'We are still on a journey. We think we are in the right direction but it can always be better because good is not good enough.' Ten Hag mischievously refused to rule out a move for Neymar following reports in France linking the Paris Saint-Germain star with United.
'When we have news, we will tell you,' smiled the Dutchman.
He was also reluctant to be drawn on suggestions that Manchester City's title success has been tainted by 115 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules.
