Every summer proves vital at Manchester United, but it can be simply decisive, with key decisions signed not through the Glazer family, who remain United’s majority shareholder, but through the club’s new regime run through INEOS.
While in the past Erik ten Hag and his predecessors had to fill the void left by a dysfunctional structure, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and their counterparts at INEOS have tried to lay the groundwork since their $1. 3 billion ($1. 6 billion) budget was confirmed. ) minority investment in February.
Although the decision on Ten Hag’s future as manager and the possible search for a replacement may dominate the start of the summer, there is still a lot of work to be done in the transfer market.
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There are 3 positions of precedence: central defender, central midfielder and center forward.
The departures are expected to leave holes in each and every one of the team’s domains, they are not the only ones who want attention.
The left-back can also strengthen after injury-ravaged seasons for Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia that saw United play without a recognised left-back in 32 of their 52 games.
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Jarrad Branthwaite is an attractive player, but Everton are expected to ask for a hefty payment for the left-centre-back, the 21-year-old who plays in the same league as fellow centre-backs Harry Maguire, Wesley Fofana and Josko Gvardiol. all of them sold in recent summers for a payment of more than 75 million pounds ($95 million at the existing exchange rate).
The viability of a move for Branthwaite may simply depend on whether Everton are in a position where they want to sell before June 30 to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability (PSR) regulations.
After Lisandro Martinez returned from injury and Raphael Varane left as a free agent, a right-back is considered a top priority for United.
Jean-Clair Todibo of INEOS-owned Nice is a candidate for that aspect of defence and has been on United’s radar since last summer, when he was widely watched as a possible replacement for Maguire. Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo was also interesting, he is now finalising the transfer of a free agent to Chelsea.
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Up front, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has been widely followed at United since he was young and remains on the radar; a great festival is expected from Arsenal.
Benfica have activated their €6m clause to sign Alvaro Fernandez permanently, in a deal that could be worth just €9m (£7. 7m; $9. 8m), adding additions, tying the 21-year-old left-back after his 16 appearances. For rent.
Varane and Anthony Martial have announced that their careers at Old Trafford will end this summer when their contracts expire. Charlie McNeill also announced that he would leave on a flexible transfer. The 20-year-old striker is the first academy graduate to make his senior debut. under Ten Hag in September 2022.
United’s first signing this summer may be James Overy, a 16-year-old full-back who hopes he will settle for a scholarship. Overy left A-League side Perth Glory after his family moved from Australia.
Only a handful of players would be absolutely banned. However, that doesn’t mean United are actively looking to sell most of their team. They would sell Marcus Rashford, for example, if a very big offer came in and he told them he wanted to leave, although the club’s preference is to help the England striker bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
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Casemiro’s departure is considered more likely and links with the Saudi Pro League persist, lately there is no agreement for the 32-year-old.
Securing a permanent sale for Mason Greenwood remains United’s preference. But if no potential customer reaches the asking price, so would some other loan (he spent the 2023-24 season with Getafe, the La Liga team). A return to United is not ruled out if an agreement cannot be reached.
High-level resources at Getafe, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their connections, Greenwood needs to play in the Champions League next season. He has already attracted a great deal of interest from suitors across Europe and was recently investigated through Napoli in Italy.
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Jadon Sancho’s run to the Champions League final on loan at former club Borussia Dortmund is expected to pique interest in his £73m English winger. He is unlikely to be reinstated under Ten Hag until the differences between the two men are resolved.
United’s plans are hampered by new appointments that have yet to begin in their roles.
For example, Dan Ashworth, the sporting director-elect, has yet to take up his duties, while negotiations continue with Newcastle United over remuneration and Omar Berrada, United’s new chief executive, will officially start work until July 13.
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However, Jason Wilcox is taking over as the new head coach and, along with director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves, will take over many of the roles that former director of football John Murtough has held in the past.
Ten Hag’s opinion in the talks about the move is due to uncertainty about his future.
Sofyan Amrabat’s future is uncertain, with United having the option to sign him permanently for €25m as part of Fiorentina’s one-season loan to Italy last season.
Although he worked his way into Ten Hag’s starting line-up in the final weeks of the campaign and is impressive, Amrabat’s future will be a component of the end-of-season review, which will also assess Ten Hag’s suitability to continue as a player. trainer.
Young winger Omari Forson has faced the final month of his contract with the hope of leaving the club. Negotiations for his renewal began in the first part of the season but have not reached an acceptable conclusion, with the feeling lately that he will leave this summer.
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Time is also running out for Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton deals, but discussions over their futures continue and there are hopes that the two can extend their tenure until next season.
Brandon Williams is expected to leave as a free agent when his contract expires this month after United failed to apply for his one-year extension.
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United cited PSR as the explanation for why they were unable to invest in the January transfer window. “I’ve looked but there’s no space,” Ten Hag said, at a time when he wanted to bring reinforcements up front.
But despite ending a disappointing crusade by failing to qualify for the Champions League, United are expected to have a larger PSR margin this summer after June 30, due to their mammoth pre-tax loss of £150m in the 2021-22 season, apart from next season’s three-year-and-one-year follow-on period.
Starting in July, a new SRP cycle will begin, focusing on 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. United’s combined losses for that period currently amount to £38 million, well below the maximum limit of £105 million allowed even before the corresponding expense deductions apply.
According to United’s most recent financial accounts up to the end of December, their combined pre-tax loss for this season’s three-year tracking period, comprising 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, amounted to £188 million.
This significant pre-tax loss would possibly have been greater in recent months due to the absence of European football in the second half of last season. United’s third-quarter monetary effects are expected to be released this summer and give us a glimpse of the end. of March.
But regardless of the existing amount of that loss, significant deductions will be made as part of the PSR process, adding £40 million in Covid-19 relief for the 2021-22 season alone. These deductions help bring United back under £105 million. limit.
Although the prospect of sanctions against PSR is unlikely, United will operate on a tighter budget compared to recent summers.
Having spent net sums of around £125 million and £188 million each season since Ten Hag’s first window in the 2022 off-season, this summer’s business will have to be done with a net spend of just £50 million.
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The last time United spent so little was in the summer of 2018 when they signed just 3 players (Diogo Dalot, Fred and veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant) and the corresponding departures of Daley Blind and Sam Johnstone recouped around £20m.
Historically, United has struggled to sell well, and balancing its accounts through departures will be key to keeping its spending low.
The belt-tightening comes as INEOS has wasted no time in slashing prices for the club’s operations, asking non-footballing staff to resign last week and in the past asking workers to pay £20 for the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in 2017. London.
Additional information: Laurie Whitwell, Adam Crafton and David Ornstein
(Top photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)