Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada says the club must stick to its plan and not overpay in the transfer market this summer.
United are just emerging from the issues created by spending vast sums on transfer fees and wages for the likes of Casemiro, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek.
The club feel they got their approach to transfers, with the increased use of data, spot on 12 months ago when they moved quickly to bring in Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford early in the summer, before signing striker Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens at the end of the window.
All four made a positive impact as United finished third in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in three years.
“The template for what we did last summer will be replicated,” said Berrada on United’s Inside Carrington podcast., external
“You never know how you will come out of a window. You have to be really prepared, you have to have a clear plan, you have to know what positions you want to strengthen and you also have to be prepared for any eventuality.
“There could be exits you weren’t expecting or opportunities that weren’t there at the beginning of the window. We have to be agile and flexible.
“We have a clear plan. [Director of football] Jason Wilcox and his team are well set up to execute that plan.
“What we saw last season is a good way forward for us.
“We want a mix of experience and youth. A mix of players who have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and players that are doing very well outside the Premier League.
“Whatever decisions we take will not just be for the short term but the long term.”