- Manchester United make the trip to what will be a fired-up Goodison Park
- Ten Hag made clear the financial rules mean United can’t just sign anyone
- Nobody’s fooled by the nature of Man United’s performances this season – IAKO
Erik ten Hag has insisted the Premier League have to enforce their own financial regulations in order to protect the integrity of the competition.
Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton, the Manchester United manager said his club wouldn’t splash out on certain transfers to stay within FFP (Financial Fair Play) – and that everyone else should also be made to follow the rules to be equitable.
Though Ten Hag was commenting generally rather than on Everton being docked 10 points for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, his position underlined the delicate situation the authorities find themselves in.
The Dutch manager – whose club didn’t pursue a transfer record move for Harry Kane last summer – said: ‘Every time you tell me ‘bring this player in’, you have to match the FFP regulations. You have to do it.
‘It gives you limitations and within those rules you have to construct the best squad possible.
Erik ten Hag has made clear Manchester United cannot just sign anyone as they try and stay within the Premier League’s financial rules
United decided against signing Harry Kane last summer with the England captain now scoring prolifically for Bayern Munich after joining from Tottenham
United can expect a hot reception at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon as they become Everton’s first opponents since their 10-point deduction
‘When you set such rules, everyone has to match the rules because otherwise it’s not fair anymore.’
Everton manager Sean Dyche said on Friday his club felt ‘aggrieved’ at the size of their points deduction after reporting bigger losses than those permitted by the Premier League.
Manchester City and Chelsea are also under investigation while Leeds, Leicester and Burnley are understood to be looking at compensation claims against Everton.
Asked if he was pleased the authorities were taking financial breaches seriously, Ten Hag added: ‘Yes, but I don’t know every detail from it. I am not a financial expert and obviously the club are dealing with that.’
