Manchester United to adapt a ‘money saving’ transfer policy under Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United will have a tight shopping budget in the summer transfer window as the club looks to change its policy under the new regime of Sir Jim Ratcliffe. According to several reports in British media, United are expected to spend less and focus more on youth academies as they try to build a team for the future. While changes are expected to be made both on and off the field, United are expected to curtail the budget for the transfers.

Why will United curtail the transfer budget?

As reported by The Telegraph, Manchester United will have a change in transfer policy and will adapt to a Porto model. This will mean that United, who had a net spend of around $222 million in the summer of 2023 will reduce the sum significantly. The model will see United cash in on players who are likely to get good offers and present little value to the club going ahead. The part of the policy also includes letting go of players on free transfers to avoid paying them huge salaries.

The latter part of the model has already been implemented with the departures of Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane. The club will look to cash in on players like Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood, who are not in the club’s future plans (at least at the time of writing). Sancho could still have a future at the club if manager Erik ten Hag departs, while Greenwood is certain to be sold.

The money generated from the sales of these players will be reinvested in the club’s summer spending budget. The money saved from salaries of free transfers will be used to hand over contracts to academy graduates.  

Manchester United to focus on Academy graduates

The club will look to purchase young players from the Championship and other lower leagues with an eye for the future. If this goes true, United won’t sign players like Varane, Casemiro, Bastian Schweinsteiger,, and others who have been products of poor investments.

Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club also has to avoid breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which has already seen clubs like Everton and Nottingham Forest get sanctioned. Manchester City are also facing similar charges as they have reportedly breached the PSR.

Part of United’s new policy will also include the amount that is to be spent on a new manager if Erik ten Hag is sacked in the coming days. Fortunately for United, Thomas Tuchel and long-term target Mauricio Pochettino are available as free transfers.

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