Erik Ten Hag, who was recently dismissed as Manchester United’s manager, reportedly requested the signing of four elite players before his departure, according to British media reports. However, the club deemed his demands “unrealistic” due to financial constraints as it undergoes a restructuring process.

Among the names on his list were some of Europe’s top players, including Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde and Frenkie de Jong, his former Ajax protégé and a key player for Barcelona. Additionally, the Dutch manager showed interest in two other major talents: Liverpool’s midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and striker Harry Kane, who now plays for Bayern Munich.

Despite having invested over 700 million euros in signings under Ten Hag’s tenure, Manchester United did not meet his specific requests. Now, the team is focused on climbing out of a challenging position in the Premier League, where they currently sit 14th with only 11 points from nine games. In light of the situation, the club is expected to announce Ruben Amorim as their new manager soon, aiming to steer a season that has started with significant challenges back on track.