Ed Woodward insists Manchester United are ready and willing to break the British transfer record if new manager Louis van Gaal decides they need to do so.
Woodward endured a frustrating first summer as United’s executive vice-chairman last year, as mooted transfers for Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo failed to materialise.
United have paid upwards of €50million (Dh313.4m) for Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera, but as has been the case for the last few years, the biggest transfers have taken place away from Old Trafford.
Real Madrid signed James Rodriguez for €80m (Dh395.7m) yesterday and Barcelona paid ¤94m (Dh465m) for Luis Suarez earlier this month.
When asked whether United would be willing to pay a similar amount for a player, Woodward said: “It is in our capabilities. The club are not afraid of doing that – spending significant amounts of money in the transfer market.”
Such a move would cause United to break the £50m record transfer fee paid by Chelsea for Fernando Torres in 2011. Woodward insists neither he nor the club would be fazed about being responsible for such a big deal.
“Whether it’s a record or not doesn’t really resonate with us,” Woodward said. “What resonates is a top, top elite player that the manager wants that is going to be a star for Manchester United.
“We are in a very strong financial position. We can make big signings.
“I get pointed in the direction of a target that the manager wants and there is an assessment of what that might cost and I’ll negotiate hard to do the best I can on the trade.”
It is understood United remain interested in signing Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund, although the club expect the Germans to fight hard for the centre-back, given that they have already lost Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich this summer.
Manager Jurgen Klopp said: “What was today’s rumour? Mats to Man U? For how much? 20 million? For a sum like that, you can forget about it anyway.”
Klopp also insisted midfielder Marco Reus is going nowhere, adding: “Marco and Mats will be playing for us next season. I can assure everybody that there is no sign at all that either of them want to leave.”
Dutch internationals Daley Blind, Stefan de Vrij and Kevin Strootman are other Van Gaal targets, although a move for the latter may have to wait until January as he is struggling with the knee injury that kept him out of the World Cup.
United have been told that Angel Di Maria is for sale, which could prompt Van Gaal to make an enquiry for the Real Madrid winger.
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is also on Van Gaal’s wish list, although United have not, contrary to reports, agreed a swap deal for the defender that would see either Nani or Chris Smalling heading the other way.
It is understood that Juventus’ Arturo Vidal is not being considered as a potential signing.
If Woodward landed two or three of those targets, he would go some way to enhancing his reputation, which took a hammering last summer when his only capture was Marouane Fellaini.
“You gain credibility through experience and through time,” he added. “You can’t expect credibility from day one and I wouldn’t ask that of the fans.
“I don’t mind reading (criticism) because it’s extremely important for me to listen to the fans. Criticism can change into positive comments over a period of time.”
