Bruno Fernandes has to play central midfielder because Man United is too short of midfield personnel - Photo: REUTERS
Ahead of the match against Fulham in round 2 of the Premier League taking place at 10:30 p.m. on August 24 (Vietnam time), Man United has reached an agreement to transfer goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Antwerp for 20 million euros.
Wasteful like Man United
If this deal is completed, Man United will increase their spending in the transfer market this summer to 250 million euros. It is worth noting that this is a net expense because Man United has not yet received any money from player sales. At the beginning of the summer, they said goodbye to Evans - the center back who decided to retire. Eriksen left as a free agent. And most recently, Marcus Rashford - the striker was loaned to Barca for free (Barca only paid his salary).
Man United’s transfer policy at the moment is reminiscent of the summer of 2017. That year, they spent nearly 200 million euros on players, with 3 expensive contracts, and only earned 10 million euros from pushing away young players from the academy. As a result, Man United finished empty-handed that season despite being led by the king of titles Jose Mourinho, and then collapsed the following season.
A top club is like a corporation, with finances that must always be kept in balance. Over the past decade or so, English fans have seen the two most stable teams in the league, Man City and Liverpool, sell players as often as they buy. Over the past two years, Chelsea have also entered a similar level of stability.
Chelsea have made €256m from player sales this summer, more than enough to cover their spending (€279m). Last season, they made €239m from sales after spending €281m on purchases. Overall, Chelsea may have been a bit off in their first two years under billionaire Todd Boehly. But they have now stopped being wasteful.
Coach Amorim still cannot rest assured about his personnel when the Premier League has gone through 2 rounds - Photo: REUTERS
Many but still lacking
Man United, on the other hand, are at the peak of waste. If they complete the contract named Lammens, the "red devils" first team will swell to 31 players. The reason for so many is because there is a long list of 4-5 names to be sold, including Sancho, Antony, Hojlund, Garnacho and Malacia. But who can Man United sell?
Maybe they will sell, but at a "loss of capital". Earlier this summer, the "red devils" offered 40 million euros to Real Betis - a team that really wanted Antony's service. But Betis refused, they only wanted to borrow, with a buyout clause of about 20 million euros next year. Betis waited, knowing that no big team would want a "waste" from Man United. And they were right, with only 1 week left until the end of the summer transfer window, Man United still could not sell Antony.
Even if Betis accepts Man United's price, the "Red Devils" will still lose 55 million euros on Antony - who they brought in in the summer of 2022 for 95 million euros. The same will happen to Hojlund - who was bought for 75 million euros, but now no one is willing to buy him for the 40 million euros that Man United wants.
Or Sancho, who cost Man United 85 million euros in transfer fees and nearly a hundred million euros more in wages, is set to leave on a free transfer next summer.
Man United's waste is terrible, possibly up to billions of euros through failed transfers alone. And the consequences are extremely clear, having a negative impact on the quality of the team.
Man United lost to Arsenal in the opening round of the Premier League because of a silly moment from the goalkeeper. Having spent billions of euros on players in the past few years, it is unbelievable that the "Red Devils" still cannot find a goalkeeper. The fact that they rushed to buy Lammens immediately after that defeat is proof.
And then there's Man United's serious lack of a central midfielder, to the point of having to move Bruno Fernandes into midfield. They're also seriously lacking a leading centre-back, to the point of having to rely on Luke Shaw's experience...
More than 30 players, but have to make do. Only Man United can fall into such an awkward situation.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-nuc-cuoi-cua-man-united-20250823225444814.htm
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