“Regardless…” – Man United chiefs told INEOS transfer plan must be adjusted

Former Manchester United defender and France international Mikael Silvestre has stated that a football club’s manager should always maintain influence over incoming transfers.

Amounting over 350 appearances for Manchester United, Silvestre a Champions League winner at Old Trafford, has been vocal in his support of Erik ten Hag.

With INEOS coming into the club following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent, the sporting leaders are looking to re-jig United’s transfer strategy, and reports have detailed that this could include stripping Ten Hag of most of his responsibility in that regard.

Quizzed on if Ten Hag, who reportedly has a veto over incoming transfers written into his contract, should maintain this power, the 2006 World Cup finalist voiced his belief that the manager of a football club deserves control over incoming players.

“Regardless of whatever’s been put in a contract, the manager of a football club needs to be influential in deciding which players are coming to their club,” Silvestre told GGRecon.

“At the end of the day, if the manager isn’t convinced by a potential incoming transfer, then they have every right to have a big say in whether the deal goes through or not.”

“Erik ten Hag is the man in charge of Manchester United’s team and he’s the one that’s responsible for whether they win or lose. His neck is on the line if his team doesn’t perform, so he should be able to give his opinion on incoming transfers.

“The decision should be a consensus between himself and the other individuals that are responsible for making signings.”

Silvestre will be well aware of what it takes to succeed at Old Trafford, having won a host of trophies at the club including the Premier League on five occasions during his time at the club.

The Frenchman most recently played at Old Trafford in May of 2022 as part of the ‘Legends of the North’ match. Another name that played in that match was Silvestre’s former teammate for club and country, Louis Saha.

Saha has recently been critical of Ten Hag, amongst others, for their hand in Antony’s disastrous spell at Manchester United so far.