The Athetic wrote an article to look forward to Manchester United's summer window this year.
What positions will Manchester United pay attention to in the summer transfer window?
Manchester United has announced the signing of Cunha, and he is expected to serve as one of two midfielders, behind the center. After missing Drapp, introducing a new center has also been put on the agenda, and Mbemo's transfer is in preparation.
It is understood that Amorin also hopes to introduce an athletic frontcourt attacking midfielder No. 8, and strengthening the wingback area is also one of the plans.
If Onana leaves the team, he may consider introducing a new goalkeeper, but the current stage signs indicate that the position has a lower priority. What are the priorities for the head coach?
Manchester United scored only 44 goals throughout the season, about half of Premier League champion Liverpool's total goals scored 86, so adding goals to the team is the top priority. Before this, Manchester United scored 57, 58 and 57 goals in three consecutive Premier League seasons, so this is a long-standing historic problem, which has only intensified this season.
Introducing wingbacks that can hit the penalty area, attack the front three zones, or cut inside to create an advantage in the middle is also crucial to realize Amorin's 3-4-2-1 formation.
Does Manchester United have specific target players?
The pursuit of 26-year-old Cunnia and 22-year-old Drapp shows what type of players Manchester United are looking for: players with Premier League experience, a good goal record, and still have many years of career prospects. Both also have the advantage of termination clauses, which greatly simplifies the transfer process.
On Monday night, The Athletic reported that 25-year-old Mbemo had decided to join Manchester United. He was originally an alternative target on Manchester United's roster, and now Drapp has chosen Chelsea, so Manchester United has adjusted their plans to try to ensure the signing of the Brentford striker.
Mbemo achieved the first time this season with 20 Premier League goals in a single season: In the previous season, when Ivan Tony was the main center, he scored 4 goals, 9 goals and 9 goals respectively. Although he has no termination clause, Brentford accepts that this summer may be the time for sale, with his contract due in 2026 and the club has the option to renew a one-year contract.
Amorin admires his forward Yorke, who once coached at Portugal Sports, and Bournemouth winger Semenho has also been inspected by Manchester United.
Osmeen's expected wage was once considered too high, but with the quest for Drapp failing, the matter may now be reassessed.
What players will Manchester United seek to sell?
As it seems to have happened every summer in the past decade, the success of the player sale will have a huge impact on Manchester United's transfer operations. However, the pressure is further increasing, not only because Manchester United's fiscal situation is worrying, but also to shape the lineup according to Amorin's wishes. The fact that there is no European war to play means that he wants to streamline the lineup anyway.
Amorin has made it clear that Garnacho can be listed for sale. Manchester United will also put pressure to get enough offers for Rashford, Marasia and Anthony who have been loaned out for half a season. Manchester United also hopes that Chelsea will fulfill the terms of forced buyout of Sancho.
If Manchester United signs a new center, Hoylen may also become the target of leaving the team, and Inter Milan is paying attention to him. In addition, Saudi club Riyadh New Moon's proposal for B fee may completely change Old Trafford's overall strategy. (As of press time, according to Romano, B Fee rejected the high price of the new moon)
Will there be players who will leave the team on loan? The high salary earned by Manchester United players means that in many cases, it is more likely to leave the team on loan than selling directly. A temporary departure means players can continue to receive full salary, which is usually shared by Manchester United and the new club, while also having the opportunity to gain a stable playing time.
This may still be a solution for Rashford. He is seeking to play for Barcelona after playing briefly at Aston Villa. His brother and agent Dwayne Maynard has been in talks in Barcelona, and Barcelona coach Frick also talked about Rashford enthusiastically.
There are also several young players who will be considered for loan departure.
What actions has Manchester United taken?
The signing of Cunha immediately after the transfer window opened on June 1 was a rapid move by Manchester United, thanks to the advance agreement with Wolves' transfer terms.
Manchester United also held face-to-face talks with Drapp, but ultimately failed.
Manchester United is preparing to start negotiations with Brentford on Mbemo's transfer, and they hope to reach an agreement on signing Mbemo.
Further investigation of other goals is also underway.
Manchester United's budget? What are the situations of profit and sustainable development rules?
The fiscal situation is tight, but Manchester United did make budgets for signing Cunha and Drapp without qualifying for the Champions League. The transfer fee of the two totaled £92.5 million can be offset in cash by installments. For example, Wolves' transfer fees will be paid in equal amounts starting this summer. At the same time, on the books, it can be handled by sharing expenses within the player's contract years. Take Cunia as an example, the initial contract was five years.
Originally designated for purchase of £30 million for Drapp, it can now be used to purchase alternative players. Signings after this are expected to depend on the player's sale.
In January, Manchester United wrote to fans, outlining the risks of violating profit and sustainable development rules. “We are currently losing a huge amount of losses every year, totaling over £300 million in the past three years. This is unsustainable and if we don’t take action now, we will face the risk of not being able to comply with the requirements of the Fiscal Fairness Act in the coming years and will seriously affect our competitiveness on the court. ”
Why is Manchester United restricted in spending?
Cunha transferred from Wolves for £62.5 million, opening another busy summer transfer window for Old Trafford. To the outsider's view, this may give the illusion that Manchester United can spend money easily this summer.
However, Manchester United is also considering selling B fees, which is widely regarded as the team's current best player, which is not without reason. In recent years, Manchester United's transfer spending has been huge, even if the performance on the court has declined. The 2024-25 season is the third consecutive season for the club to spend more than £200 million on new players.
However, during the same period, players' annual sales have never exceeded £60 million, and the club's transfer income record can be traced back to the 2008-09 season, when Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid, resulting in a total £83.7 million in revenue.
Once upon a time, Manchester United's business strength ensured that the transfer train continued to move forward, but now there is increasing evidence that there are obstacles on the track.
Manchester United spends money like a Champions League club but fails to truly become one of them. Next season will be Manchester United's sixth time in 12 years missing UEFA's top game, and the club's resources have shrunk. By the end of December 2024, Manchester United had £95.5 million in cash on hand, but had a net owed transfer fee of £300.1 million.
After paying the cost of the transfer transaction, United's cash flow has been negative in recent years. This also explains why the club is so eager to extend Cunha's installment period to more than two years Wolves insisted, and Manchester United finally reluctantly agreed to these terms.