Manchester United Transfer Strategy: In-Depth Briefing
Below is a summary of the transfer campaign of Manchester United, Players In and Out, Managerial Insane Comments, and market trend according to the source of information obtained from the media.
- Player Availability and Managerial Stance
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager, has made the trio of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Anthony available for sale. Trell Masia is also implicitly being included in this group; five players to sell were initially listed, and Marcus Rashford is already gone to Barcelona.
According to Amorim’s public statements, this is a nuanced position:
“Some of the players are going to have to go home and look for a new home to have space in the team for other players, and other players show that they want a new challenge.
He outright says if the clubs “don’t match their valuation,” that these players “will be Manchester United players.”
And subsequently, Amorim caustically warns clubs biding their time for a lower fee that they “can have a surprise” and that he is “ready to receive the players” back into his squad, adding that “they have more competition if they want to play in the World Cup, they have to play”.
This position is described as the club performing a “protecting of their negotiating position” and to keep “good bargaining position,” a similar strategy to that when Jadon Sancho was under Erik ten Hag’s “exoneration. … the squad entirely” but then photographed back in training to indicate that he still belonged and his market value must be preserved.
“But it is feared that this reintegration is not genuine, when these players are ‘not part of the preseason of Manchester United,’ not on the tour, not involved with the new signings of Neto, nor even with Amorim’s ‘new ideas.'” That calls into question how “tough is that going to be to integrate those players back” if they stay.
- Selling Pressure and Financial Considerations
Manchester United “obviously don’t want those three players at their club anyway”. So, the club now has ” its attention set more on’ player sales’ to ‘get some money in’ before any more signings that might happen.
‘It’s a tricky place for the club as there are buyers out there, but they all know United want to sell, so they are sitting back a little bit and waiting for the last minute when you are at your most desperate stage and you can get a poor deal for someone. That implies a “giant game of chicken” happening in the trading market there.
And the cold, hard truth about the financial side of the matter is that United aren’t going to get big transfer fees for these guys:
“They are not going to get anywhere near 73 million pounds for Jadon Sancho.
“They’re not going to get anywhere near the 80, 90 million they spent on Anthon.”
As a result, United are willing to “make a loss” on these players, considering it “a small sacrifice for the good of the long-term future of Manchester United” as they look to “reset and start the new Manchester United under Ruben Amarim.” A model similar to Arsenal’s, which “took a hit with some of their finances”,, o mutually terminate contracts in an attempt to rid themselves of players.
- Player-Specific Transfer Interest
Anthony: “More offers more interest” for Anthony (compared to Sancho, Garnacho, and Masia).
Saudi Arabian Professional League: Looking at two clubs.
Real Betis: Interested in a return after his successful loan spell, but “a permanent transfer fee is not doable for them”; they want to loan rather than buy (though United is also interested in a permanent sale).
Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich: Also “monitoring the situation.” Anthony’s prior relationship with Erik ten Hag at Ajax is an obvious connection, even if he is “not studying him right now.”
Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Trell Masia: Lower imminent interest than Anthony, so more difficult to sell at present. - Incoming Transfer Targets and Strategy
Despite the sales focus, Manchester United have already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. One thing you notice about all these signings is that they have “Premier League experience.” This is a slight change in recruitment policy. And that the club “might be moving away from going abroad for the likes of Hyland Xerxy [and] Anthony [which] hasn’t worked” to players that can “hit the ground running straight away” and, ideally “, in their mid-20s, arguably at their peak of their powers”.
Regardless of what happens with Rasmus Højlund, the club is still in the market for a “striker” or “number nine.” Potential targets include:
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) Initial chat met with “not for sale” tabloid talk. Having said that, Aston Villa’s pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho “might be the key” in any potential Watkins transfer.
Victor Gyökeres: Linked with a move, but likely to move elsewhere.
Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea): Explored.
Benjamin Šeško (RB Leipzig) had followed the teenager for some time, driven by United’s recruitment chief Christopher Vivell, who took Šeško to Red Bull Salzburg as a 16-year-old.
All of those striker targets “seem to be a little bit too expensive for Manchester United to do” now, doubling down on the pressing need to sell players. United can also “wait until later in the window to maybe get a better price” for these targets, similar to the approach other clubs are taking with United.
- Organisational Structure and Long-Term Vision
The latest transfer window is evidence of a decisive change at Manchester United. “After 10 or 11 years since Sir Alex Ferguson left, Manchester United have tried everything with all the managers, but without structure, right?” They now “have this structure in place” and “believe in Ruben Amarim.
The decisions — even the tough ones like the player sales — are probably part of a grand plan to construct “the new Manchester United under Ruben Amarim,’’ even if that comes with a financial cost right now.
