The ridiculous story of Man United

Despite spending over 230 million euros on players this summer, Manchester United are still short of funds and are racing to strengthen their squad in the final week of the transfer window.

Bruno Fernandes has to play central midfield because Manchester United are severely short of personnel in the midfield - Photo: REUTERS

Ahead of their Premier League match against Fulham at 10:30 PM on August 24th (Vietnam time), Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Antwerp for €20 million.

Wasteful like Man United

If this deal is completed, Man United will raise their spending in the summer transfer market to €250 million. Significantly, this is entirely net spending, as Man United have yet to receive a single penny from player sales. Earlier this summer, they parted ways with Evans – the central defender who decided to retire. Eriksen left on a free transfer. And most recently, Marcus Rashford – the striker who was loaned to Barcelona on a free transfer (Barcelona only paid his salary).

Manchester United's current transfer policy is reminiscent of the summer of 2017. That year, they spent nearly €200 million on players, including three expensive signings, and only recouped €10 million from selling off young academy players. As a result, Manchester United ended the season empty-handed despite being led by the title-winning manager Jose Mourinho, and then collapsed the following season.

A top club is similar to a corporation, where finances must always be kept in balance. Over the past decade, English fans have seen the two most stable teams in the league, Man City and Liverpool, sell almost as many players as they buy. In the last two years, Chelsea has also gradually moved towards a similar level of stability.

Specifically, Chelsea earned €256 million from player sales this summer, balancing their spending (€279 million). Last season, they earned €239 million from sales after spending €281 million on purchases. Overall, Chelsea may have been a bit shaky in their first two years under billionaire Todd Boehly. But now they have put an end to wasteful spending.

Coach Amorim is still not at ease about his squad even after two rounds of the Premier League have passed - Photo: REUTERS

Many, but still not enough.

Manchester United, on the other hand, is at the peak of wastefulness. If they complete the Lammens deal, the Red Devils' first team will swell to 31 players. This is because they have a long list of 4-5 players to be sold, including Sancho, Antony, Hojlund, Garnacho, and Malacia. But who will Manchester United sell?

It's possible they'll sell him eventually, but at a loss. Earlier this summer, Manchester United offered €40 million to Real Betis – a team desperately wanting Antony's services. But Betis refused, only wanting to loan him with an option to buy for around €20 million next year. Betis waited, knowing full well that no big club would covet a "discarded" player from Man United. And they were right; with only a week left in the summer transfer window, Man United still haven't sold Antony.

Even if Betis accepts Man United's asking price, the "Red Devils" would still lose €55 million on Antony – whom they brought in in the summer of 2022 for €95 million. The same would apply to Hojlund – who was bought for €75 million, but now no one is interested in buying him for the €40 million Man United are hoping for.

Hay Sancho, who cost Man United €85 million in transfer fees and nearly €100 million in wages, is set to leave on a free transfer next summer.

Manchester United's wasteful spending is appalling, potentially amounting to billions of euros through failed transfer deals alone. The consequences are clear: a negative impact on the team's quality.

Manchester United lost to Arsenal in the opening round of the Premier League due to a silly moment from their goalkeeper. Having spent billions of euros on players in recent years, it's hard to believe that the "Red Devils" still can't solve the goalkeeping problem. Their hasty signing of Lammens immediately after that defeat is proof of that.

Furthermore, Man United are severely lacking a central midfielder, to the point where they have to move Bruno Fernandes down to the middle of the pitch. They are also severely lacking a leader in center-back, to the point where they are using Luke Shaw, hoping for his experience...

With over 30 players, yet struggling to make ends meet. Only Manchester United could find themselves in such a bizarre situation.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-nuc-cuoi-cua-man-united-20250823225444814.htm