Erik ten Hag makes demand to Sir Jim Ratcliffe over Man Utd's summer transfer plans

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has warned Sir Jim Ratcliffe that he must oversee a strong summer transfer window if the Red Devils are to compete for the Premier League title next season.

With a spot in the top four almost mathematically impossible, United find themselves in a battle to seal any form of European football this year, with Ten Hag also hoping to avoid leading the team to their lowest Premier League finish ever — currently seventh from 2013/14.

While Ten Hag argued injuries have hampered his side's push for Champions League qualification, he insisted the squad is simply not strong enough to compete for the title at this point.

«It's not just a two or three-horse race in the league,» he told a press conference. «There’s [Aston] Villa, there's Spurs, [and] there's Newcastle. So many good teams, who all can compete.

»We're one of them, but we're not, at this moment, in a position to compete No.1 or No.2. That's a fact.

«This year, we stand still, but when everyone is available, definitely we're competing for the top four. I'm confident of that.»

In a message to Ratcliffe, Ten Hag added: «We can come closer if we make a good window. We have to strengthen in key positions and also in the depth of the squad, which is one of the lessons from this season.»

understands Ratcliffe is keen to seal a move for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who is understood to be interested in making the switch to Old Trafford this summer.

A new striker is also on the agenda, and while there is interest in RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, officials are also looking at Brentford's Ivan Toney.

Toney is seen as both a reliable source of goals and a potential leadership figure in the United dressing room if he were to make the move this