IT'S PAYBACK TIME

Ten Hag has to deliver after Ineos splash cash

- DAVID MCDONNELL

MANUEL UGARTE'S imminent confirmation as a Manchester United player will take the club's summer transfer spend to around £200m.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his new United football executive team have delivered Erik ten Hag the signings he wanted to take the club back into the top four of the Premier League.

After last season's worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth, the new regime at Old Trafford have reacted in the strongest possible way - with Ugarte set to be their fifth summer signing.

The Uruguay midfielder, who will join from Paris St-Germain for a fee in excess of £50m, joins Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as the latest addition to the improved squad.

United may have stumbled to a fifth successive Premier League defeat to Brighton last weekend, but there is a feeling of optimism over the long-term picture following the club's summer business.