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There’s finally some good news on Manchester United’s transfer budget, if a new report from Football Insider is to be believed.
Media reports have been trickling in for weeks suggesting that the Red Devils will only have £50m this summer. That’s because years of profligacy have put one of the world’s richest clubs at risk of breaching the Premier League’s strict Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules.
Given the obvious need for reinforcements after a shock season in which United broke all sorts of records and finished eighth in the Premier League, the figure looked like it would barely scratch the surface of what it would take to return them to a side capable of a title challenge is mounted.
However, rejoice! Reporter Sean Fisher’s sources have told him that United are “planning to back Erik ten Hag with a summer budget of £140m”.
However, there may be a catch. Fisher added: “That budget will vary based on player sales with United in the process of offloading Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Casemiro over the summer among others.”
This statement is vague. Does Fisher’s source include estimated player sales revenue in his optimistic forecast? Or does he say that those revenues would be at their peak?
With United demanding around £40m each for Sancho and Greenwood and possibly hoping for £10m for Casemiro, that £90m added to the £50m budget comes to the magic figure of £140m.
However, the reporter adds that “significant cost-cutting since Ratcliffe’s takeover – including a huge reduction in the wage bill – has given the club much more flexibility over the summer period, particularly after June 30.”
So if he suggests that United can make £140m plus Sancho/Greenwood/Casemiro income, then the situation looks much rosier and the total war chest could then rise above £200m.
It is certainly true that in qualifying for the Europa League via the FA Cup final, United are guaranteed at least £4 million in additional income which could rise to £10 million if they reach the final. And it’s true that Ineos is implementing cost-cutting measures across the club.
It’s also a fact that the departures of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial will see £590,000-a-week savings on their wages, and if Casemiro moves on too, the annual net saving over the three deals will be a staggering £49m.
The cat could climb even higher with the additional player sales mentioned by the reporter. There have been a few rumblings that Aaron Wan-Bissaka may be heading back to London and if two new centre-backs are brought in, it is likely that either Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof could also leave.
Christian Eriksen’s future is also uncertain while Scott McTominay is a regular target for various clubs.
All in all, there are plenty of moving parts to this operation, but on some level Football Insider’s report doesn’t look beyond the possibilities, which would certainly make for some exciting activity in the transfer market this summer.
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