Manchester United will struggle to overhaul their underperforming squad in the summer transfer window due to financial restrictions.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is hoping to make sweeping changes at United in the off-season after completing his takeover in February. Alongside INEOS’ head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, he has begun to implement his vision to get the club back on track.
That has included the hiring of Jason Wilcox from Southampton as technical director, Omar Berrada from Manchester City as chief executive and the pending arrival of Dan Ashworth from Newcastle to become sporting director. The hope is that the new hierarchy will then reshape the playing squad, potentially under a new manager, with Erik ten Hag’s future under scrutiny.
But the scope of their powers could well be hindered by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which have curbed their ambition. United are currently sixth in the Premier League and the lack of Champions League football next season will dent their income, while also limiting the calibre of player they can attract.
And sources at United have told BBC Sport that there is an understanding that, even if everything goes to plan and there is an upturn in fortunes, they might have to wait until the 2025/26 season before they can splash the cash in the transfer market. As such, United are likely to focus on offloading unwanted players in the upcoming transfer window.
Ratcliffe has previously been openly critical of United’s transfer policy, telling The Times in 2019, that "[Ineos] never wants to be the dumb money in town, never, never”. The club shelled out over £170million last summer to bring in Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana, while over £200m was spent in the summer of 2022 to sign Casemiro, Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia.
They have to sell in order to buy new players and it is open season, with United considering everyone apart from young talents Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Hojlund to be up for sale this summer. Anthony Martial is leaving when his contract expires and Raphael Varane is also expected to leave at the end of June.
United are keen to sell on Casemiro, who is earning around £350,000-a-week, and Christian Eriksen, while Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay could attract offers for the second successive summer. Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Hannibal Mejbri are all out on loan currently and would ideally be sold, but Facundo Pellistri is expected to return for pre-season.
If they can buy players then a centre-back and a centre-forward are the priorities for United this summer. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Wolves’ Max Kilman are targets, while a replacement for Martial will be sought.