The Glazer family are in control of the purse strings at Old Trafford, and how much they are willing to commit to the club this summer is doubtful.
Every day Manchester United are linked with a whole host of new signings.
On Monday it was Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, while last week there was a ridiculous rumour linking them with Robin van Persie.
Their narrow defeat in the Premier League title race will accelerate the need to improve, and there are several areas in which they need to do so.
Last summer the Glazers spent £52.9 million on three players, Jones, Young and De Gea, spending over £17 million on each, meanwhile chopping enough ‘deadwood’ from their squad to reduce their net spend to £38 million, their highest in recent history, even the pre-Glazer days.
Looking at United’s spending patterns over the past decade and a half, you can discount a big money bid for a Sneijder type almost right away.
Chief executive David Gill said yesterday that targets are already being identified, but Sir Alex Ferguson added that the club are unlikely to be able to compete with Manchester City in the transfer market, and nor will they try to.
What this means for any possible transfer of Eden Hazard, you can draw your own conclusions, we expect the Belgian to be playing at the Etihad in Blue next season.
United need to look first at what they can sell, and where they need to sign players.
For sale, their biggest asset is Dimitar Berbatov, but he could only raise as little as £8 million; top that off with Ritchie de Laet, possibly Park Ji-Sung and a usual raft of nearly-but-not-quite youngsters to the Championship should raise their income to around £15 million if they are lucky.
Then, their squad needs; A fourth striker is required, a new right-back, a new left-back to provide competition for Evra, and at least two central midfielders.
Shinji Kagawa is one name linked, an attacking midfielder who would be available at a good price. Another Dortmund player who has only one year left on his contract is the aforementioned Lewandowski, a striker, who would be available for under £15 million.
This is the price bracket United are going to have to do most of their business this summer.
When they are looking for a striker, forget Leandro Damiao, who would cost £30 million, United do not have the funds. Forget a Cavani or a Falcao, those players will be left for only the richest clubs, Chelsea or Manchester City to go after.
The reason United don’t have the funds, is because the Glazers will only put up around £35-40 million for cash in new players, plus £15 million coming in, they won’t blow such a large portion on one striker.
The priority must be in midfield, that is where they need most work, and energy, which was exposed in Europe this season, and against City.
United’s squad needs so much work, just in the midfield area alone, that United will have to look at acquiring several mid-level price tag targets, rather than several big names.
They have a ceiling, Manchester City do not, and that is the reality.
If United buy sensibly, it does not necessarily have to hold them back though. Signings are as much about integrating into a squad and the players themselves as a price tag.
Look at Fernando Torres, there are no guarantees, Wesley Sneijder would just as likely be an expensive mistake. If United can do what Newcastle did and buy good value high talented players, they will remain in the title hunt next season.
The Glazers did not stop them rising to and seeing off the Chelsea challenge, and while it may not be easy, the club will continue to adjust and work within the restrictions they have hanging over them, and keep chasing trophies.
image: © Paolo Camera
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