ERIK IS IN THE MOOD TO SPEND
when the Reds face bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The Americans are aware the probable capture of five-time Champions League winner Casemiro to add to new signings Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia will not pacify the club’s increasingly militant support.
And after Ten Hag warned them that the size of the task ahead of him was much bigger than he thought when he agreed to leave Ajax, the Glazers agreed to loosen the purse strings.
A source close to Ten Hag told Sunday People Sport: “United are going into the final days of the transfer window with all guns blazing.”
Ten Hag was expected to finally draw a line through his bid to land No.1 target De Jong after the capture of Casemiro.
The Dutch midfielder’s advisers are banking on Barcelona blinking first in their efforts to sell De Jong and save £17m in
deferred wages, with the cashstrapped Catalans in desperate need of the sale.
United have agreed a deal worth £71.5m – including a package of add-ons.
They have also had a £72.3m offer for Brazilian forward Antony rejected by Ajax.
The 23-year-old refused to train on Friday when news of the bid broke.
And although the Amsterdam club do not want to sell after losing Ten Hag and Martinez to Old Trafford, the expectation in Amsterdam is that they will play ball if United up their bid.
United also want PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo to add more firepower.
PSV can book a place in the Champions League group stages when they face Rangers on Wednesday night after forcing a 2-2 draw in Glasgow.
Gakpo, the current Dutch footballer of the year, is rated at £35m by his club and wants the chance to play in the Premier League. United will step up their bid to sign him after PSV’S European fate has been decided.