Erik ten Hag defends Man Utd's heavy spending

Erik ten Hag has defended Manchester United's significant investment in the transfer market, stating that all the top teams are doing the same.

The Dutchman recruited six new signings during his first summer in charge, spending a combined £210m on Antony, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen, while Martin Dubravka, Jack Butland, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst all joined on loan.

United's spending has not stopped this summer. Mason Mount joined from Chelsea for an initial £55m, with a further £47m spent on Andre Onana, and the shopping spree keeps going as Rasmus Hojlund is close to joining from Atalanta for up to £72m.

When asked whether the increased investment puts pressure on him and his players, Ten Hag insisted United are not the only team to be spending big.

«In comparison with the other [teams], we are not doing more or less,» he told the media. «They all invested a lot in their teams. I’m not focusing on this issue because it’s totally, for me, unattractive.

»I have to think about my way of play and how I improve my team. I will fight for players who I want to have in and I will demand from the club to get the right players in and when we have that, we have to get results."

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Ten Hag went on to stress that his near-£400m spending spree does not mean United should be viewed as title challengers for the coming Premier League season.

«I think in pre-season we shouldn’t talk about that [the title]. I think no one in the Premier League can do that, [except] maybe City,» said Ten Hag.

«They can do that because for the last six years they won the title five times. So they can talk about that but any other club must first compete for the first four positions and make sure you are getting in