A new Manchester United crisis is emerging as the club continues to struggle in the transfer market. Andy Mitten in GQ has revealed that: “Rival clubs and agents know there’s an air of desperation” at the club. Learn more about the causes of the Red Devils’ strife and how the club’s business paints a worrying picture at Old Trafford.
The Latest Manchester United Crisis
New column for @BritishGQ on MUFC. What happened on Sunday and what happens now? https://t.co/PxvBDXm6Cv
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) August 10, 2022
Cause of the Problems
There are several different causes at the root of Manchester United’s struggles. The club failed to qualify for the Champions League at the end of last season. Not only is this causing Cristiano Ronaldo to agitate for a move, but makes the club a less attractive move. Players such as Frenkie De Jong and Benjamin Sesko have Champions League football on the table, making the Manchester side, who will play Europa League football this season, an unappealing move.
Whilst not a problem in itself, the Carrington-based side’s trophy cabinet and funds contribute to the way that agents see Manchester United. With dozens of trophies in the cabinet and hundreds of millions to spend every summer, agents see an opportunity to squeeze higher fees out of the side. A fanbase hungry for trophies after being starved of them for five seasons only adds to this pressure.
How These Problems Are Affecting Manchester United
Agents have noted the situation Manchester United are in, and see a significant opportunity. Where Manchester City move on from transfers when prices get too high, such as Marc Cucurella, the Red Devils cannot reject the possibility of getting talented players in. That’s why the club are linked with players like Alvaro Morata. Despite the Spaniard being labelled as something of a flop after his spell at Chelsea, his interest in playing at Old Trafford makes him unique amongst Europe’s elite.
The size of the club’s wage bill is another issue for United. Agents know that players earn large wages at the club, and see an opportunity for their client to earn more as a Red Devil. Players that are below Champions League standard earn healthy salaries at Manchester United. This means that when players that are good enough to take the club to the next level join, they expect even more. Wage inflation is a nasty cycle for the club, and means less money available for truly great talents.
How Manchester United Can Move Forward
Moving forward at Old Trafford is a long process. This window is a matter of continuing with the current strategy and hoping that signing their current targets can lead to the Champions League. In the future, a far less reactive system is ideal. This means going for specific targets in set positions. Doing so means that the club only spends what it needs, rather than investing in fringe players that cost a lot in wages.
More of a focus on youth is also an ideal strategy. Clubs such as Manchester City, Liverpool and even Leeds United are making the most of their youngsters. Bringing more young players to the fore, especially with the ability to make five substitutions in games, an ideal route to reducing the Red Devils’ reliance on burdensome transfers.
Main Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
