Erik ten Hag joked he may need to crowdsource funds from young Manchester United fans when asked if the club would sign Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.
United are expected to bolster their ranks during the January transfer window, as they continue to cement their revival under Ten Hag.
Moves for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham and Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe, however, are unlikely to be on the table.
That hasn't stopped supporters quizzing Ten Hag on a deal for either player, to which the manager joked he may need more than just the backing of the board to pursue any move.
"I want to," he told a group of young fans who asked him whether he could buy the pair. "Have you any pennies for me?"
United will not be needing to dip into the pockets of their fanbase to fulfil any moves this window, though quite who Ten Hag will bring through the door remains to be seen.
Jack Butland has been brought in on loan from Crystal Palace to replace Martin Dubravka, who has returned to Newcastle United, while United are also said to be interested in Wout Weghorst, the striker who is on loan at Besiktas from Burnley.
England midfielder Bellingham is widely tipped to depart Dortmund later this year, with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City all said to be keen.
France attacker Mbappe only extended his stay with PSG ahead in May last year.
Guardiola 'pretty sure' Grealish will return to peak form
Pep Guardiola is "pretty sure" Jack Grealish will return to his form of old in a Manchester City shirt after an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign.
Grealish was one of the poster boys of City's remarkable treble-winning campaign last year, but he struggled for starts this time around.
The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final loss to Manchester United and did not feature at all in City's final four games.
Jeremy Doku, who joined last August, was instead preferred from the bench at Wembley and scored for City in their 2-1 defeat.
However, Guardiola believes City's club-record signing will return to his best next season.
"He will be back," Guardiola said. "He’s struggled this season and Jeremy has made an incredible step forward as everyone has seen.
"But Jack will be back at the level of last season, I'm pretty sure."
City became the first club in English football to win four top-flight titles in a row, but they fell short in the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as the EFL Cup.
Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has just one year to run on his contract, while others - goalkeeper Ederson among them - have been linked with a move away.
The reigning Premier League champions will also no doubt be looking to bring in new players as they prepare to defend their title once again.
"I know some players have to take a decision on whether they stay with us and some players might come," Guardiola said after the defeat to fierce rivals United.
"My sporting director says everything is fine for next year but right now, I don't know what might happen."
Xavi departs disappointed his work at Barcelona was not appreciated enough
Sacked Barcelona manager Xavi said he leaves the club disappointed after feeling his work was not appreciated enough as they finished the season with a 2-1 win at Sevilla on Sunday.
Xavi, 44, who joined Bara on a three-year deal when Dutchman Ronald Koeman left in 2021, led the Catalan giants to their 27th league title last season.
He compiled 90 wins, 23 draws and 29 defeats in 142 games in charge but was fired on Friday.
"I have the feeling that everything I have done in these two and a half years has caused an earthquake. I have been targeted many times in many situations," Xavi said.
"I think that the work has not been sufficiently appreciated. This year we haven't been up to the task because of details. We had four key games in which we couldn't finish the good work we had done," he added.
LaLiga runners-up Barcelona, who finished 10 poins behind Real Madrid, have endured a frustrating season, losing to Real in the Spanish Super Cup final, knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals and eliminated from the Champions League by Paris St Germain also in the last eight.
Xavi decided to step down in January but agreed to return in April after talks with president Joan Laporta, who later changed his mind and sacked him after a season without silverware.
"It is not for me to say the reasons or the motives. I think it is up to the president to say them. I had no choice but to accept it. It doesn't matter if I agree with the arguments.
"I'm not leaving with a sense of relief because we wanted to continue. These are decisions made by the club. We understood and respected that, but we thought it wasn't over," he added.
Xavi pointed out that while he did not agree with his departure, he accepted that the club was bigger, adding that the next coach's job would not be easy.
"He should know that he has a tough situation because Barca is a challenging club but on top of that it is in an adverse economic situation. It will not be an easy task," he said.
Alex Sandro leaves Juventus cherishing Bianconeri connection after Monza win
Alex Sandro celebrated trophies and finals with Juventus but says he will cherish his bond with the Bianconeri supporters the most after an emotional farewell on Saturday.
The Brazil international waved goodbye in Turin for one final time against Monza, signing off with a goal in a 2-0 victory at Allianz Stadium.
Alex Sandro made a record-equalling 327 appearances for Juve, matching Pavel Nedved's record for the most by a foreign player in the club's history.
Yet the versatile defender will be moving onto new beginnings after Juve ended the season third in Serie A.
"It was emotional for me, I have never cried so much in my life," he told DAZN, having joined the club in 2015.
"I am proud of myself and what I achieved. Over the last few days, I told everyone that the trophies and finals were lovely, but what I take away is the bond with the people."
Paolo Montero was in interim charge once more for the clash with Monza, in which Federico Chiesa was also on target.
The Juventus caretaker also oversaw a 3-3 draw with Bologna after Massimiliano Allegri was dismissed, and Montero acknowledged he has not changed much in terms of tactics.
"I honestly did not come here to transform anything, but to collaborate and I am proud to be with these players," Montero told DAZN.
"Every time they play, I sit in the stands to watch them, so it was an honour to be here with them."
Montero referenced Chiesa as one of Juve's key players going forward.
"We evaluated the players in the best shape," Montero added. "Chiesa has the quality to play on the right like at Fiorentina or the left like for Italy.
"He is a champion with a very positive mentality and is prepared for the Euros this summer.
"Chiesa makes the difference, I saw that at the stadium. If he continues to play at this tempo, he creates spaces and becomes deadly in one-on-one situations.
"These players can play wide, central, left or right, the important thing is that they have space to take men on."
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