Jose Mourinho has lifted the lid on Manchester United’s summer transfer plans, while warning that there will only be “basic” investment.
The Red Devils have spent big in recent windows, splashing out a club record £89 million on Paul Pogba and £75m on Romelu Lukaku.
Sizeable fees have also been required to land the likes of Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof.
Further strengthening is expected in 2018, as a couple of experienced heads prepare to head for retirement and pastures new, but Mourinho insists there will be no elaborate rebuild at Old Trafford.
He told reporters after seeing United book a place in the FA Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham: “We are going to invest the basic to improve our squad.
“We need to find a replacement for [Michael] Carrick and for [Marouane] Fellaini, if he leaves.
“And there is always in a squad, a player or a couple of players, who are not playing a lot and will try to leave.
“So we will touch our squad but more than spend, spend, spend, we believe in the evolution of our players. We have some young players that need to take with both hands the opportunities for their evolution.”
Playing Surface/GettyUnited need to evolve as a collective this summer, with arch-rivals Manchester City having established domestic dominance in 2017-18.
Bridging the gap to noisy neighbours is the challenge facing the Red Devils, with it important for them to force their way back into Premier League title contention.
“Can we improve next season? Let’s try,” added Mourinho.
“Whether Manchester City keep this level or improve this level, only they can say. But if they’re going to invest on top of the team they already have, it will be difficult for all of us.
“In this moment, I don’t even think about next season, or the cup final, I think about our next game, Arsenal, because we need one point to finish in the top four and we need seven to finish second. And we deserve to finish second. We have to finish second.”