Manchester United Transfers: Can United Afford Hazard, Van Persie or Kagawa?

It is extremely difficult for Manchester United supporters to acknowledge the blindingly obvious at the moment—the Glazers are cash poor.

It is therefore becoming increasingly unlikely that United will spend more than £15 million on one given player this transfer window.

Sir Alex Ferguson may preach the importance of not over-spending in the face of huge sums being thrown around by the likes of City, Chelsea, Barcelona and Madrid, but the truth of the matter is that he is protecting the American owners for the sake of club unity.

After all, spending large sums on the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Dimitar Berbatov and even David de Gea has never been a problem in the past.

It is also apparent that £25 million bargains can be found in today's financial climate—the likes of David Silva (£24 million), Yaya Toure (£24 million) and Sergio Aguero (£38 million) painfully spring to mind.

United had indeed been linked with the above named before their respective transfers, but just when it seemed like Sir Alex was beginning to show a genuine interest, the price tags seemed to expand with an alarming regularity.

Even the "affordable" Shinji Kagawa has seen his worth double this week from £7 million to £14 million according to reports, with Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke warning potential suitors that the club were expecting to receive a fee similar to that paid for Manuel Neuer last summer (£14.5 million).

 Little wonder the trail linking United with the Japanese midfielder has suddenly gone cold.

Has Sir Alex become obsessed with bargain hunting?

In terms of Eden Hazard, his hat trick against Nancy this past weekend most likely served to add on another £5 million to his price tag, further distancing United from a player that would have an undoubted impact in next season's title race were he to choose red over blue.

But how can the Glazers compete with apparent contract offers in excess of £150,000 a week from Chelsea and City?

The same can be said of Robin Van Persie, a player that Sir Alex is known to admire (how could he not?), and would love to sign.

If City or Chelsea, or even Barca or Madrid, were to show an interest, that would rule United out.

The £80 million in funds that the Glazers were supposed to be "keeping in trust" for future transfers will have undoubtedly been poured into payments to pay off the huge debts they brought to the club.

This being said, it must be acknowledged that the club did spend around £50 million on Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea last summer.

Why then would there be an issue offering the majority of that amount for one player—a "difference-maker"—a Cristiano Ronaldo?

After all, there are no more secrets in football anymore, CR7 was the last of them.

Scouts travel to the arctic and back every winter in search of the 17-year-old future superstar.

It is therefore time for Sir Alex, and United, to bite the bullet and splash out big on a player like Eden Hazard.

Because if they don't, someone else will.

Someone like City.