Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes Manchester United are facing a unique issue regarding player wages at Old Trafford.
Since the Ineos takeover, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. have been trying to regain control of Manchester United’s wage bill.
High earners such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David de Gea and Paul Pogba were all let go, and Ruben Amorim has continued to be ruthless with some of United’s high-profile players.
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There has been a noticeable shift in transfer strategy under Ineos too, with younger, high-potential players targeted as opposed to big-name superstars.
United’s £364 million wage bill ranked lower than rivals Manchester City and Liverpool in the latest set of accounts, but Kieran Maguire has explained the difficulty that the Red Devils face when trying to offload high-earning players.
Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty ImagesMan United face unique and ‘messy’ wage issue
Ineos made it a top priority this summer to only sign players desperate to represent United.
Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all had offers from other clubs in the Champions League, but rejected their proposals to make the move to Old Trafford.
Finance expert Kieran Maguire, speaking on the Beyond the Back Four podcast, has urged United to make “fewer mistakes” in the market as they struggle to offload high-earning players as a “destination club”.
“I think the challenge for Manchester United is that Manchester United is a destination club, whereas if you are looking at clubs of the calibre of Brentford, Brighton, they are seen as stepping stone clubs.
“So when they are recruited, they know if they accelerate their career they will move on. If they don’t, they will still be earning the going rate of £60-70 grand a week and still be in a relatively great position from an income point of view.”
“What do you do with those players whose ambition it was to join a destination club and they are now 22, 23, 24, they are not going to go to a bigger club, and therefore the only step is down.
“So trying to persuade those players to take a pay cut is difficult, and I think that’s the bigger issue, and this will be the greater challenge.
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“It’s trying to balance a football player’s desire to be physically playing football, versus their cultural desire to want to play for Manchester United, and you’ve got their agent in their ear, saying you are on an extra £40k at United, give it another year, because the agent wants their 10 per cent of the higher salary.
“It’s messy and it’s why a club of the calibre of Manchester United must make fewer mistakes in the transfer market.”
Ineos are fixing Man United transfer mistakes
Since the change in ownership, there is no denying that United’s recruitment has improved drastically.
Amorim made it clear that United implemented a new transfer rule this summer which prioritised players’ character and attitude over their talent.
Mbeumo and Cunha have both been major additions to the dressing room, while Sesko has an elite mentality to improve and fulfil his potential.
Not only have Ineos improved the incomings, though, but United have also improved their ability to sell.
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Alejandro Garnacho was sold for £40m in a deal that will provide pure profit in PSR, while Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund look set to complete permanent deals to Barcelona and Napoli respectively.
United have often been stuck with high-earners refusing to move, but it seems that will no longer be tolerated by Ineos.