The club’s worst Premier League season in over three decades—finishing 15th with 18 losses and a 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham—has left United without European football and its associated revenue, exacerbating a precarious financial position. Amorim, who took charge in November 2024, now faces a critical transfer window where offloading high-wage players is essential to fund squad changes needed for his 3-4-3 system.
United’s financial troubles stem from a combination of factors: a £100 million shortfall from missing Champions League qualification, a £25 million drop in Premier League merit payments, and a £10 million penalty to Adidas for failing to reach Europe’s top competition.
These losses, coupled with £312.9 million in pre-tax losses over the past three seasons, have pushed United close to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) limits.
Amorim confirmed the reality in a press conference, stating, “To do something, we need to sell players,” highlighting the club’s restricted transfer budget, estimated at £100 million but heavily reliant on sales to avoid breaching PSR.
Amorim’s vision requires pace, power, and athleticism—qualities lacking in a squad ill-suited to his high-pressing style. Despite securing Wolves’ Matheus Cunha for £62.5 million and pursuing Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo for £50 million, further signings hinge on departures.
Players like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony, all on loan or deemed surplus, are prime candidates for sales. Rashford, currently at Aston Villa, has drawn interest from Barcelona, but his £300,000-a-week wages and reluctance to take a pay cut complicate deals.
Sancho’s loan at Chelsea includes a £5 million penalty clause to avoid a permanent move, while Garnacho, told his United career is over, is linked with Chelsea and Napoli. Antony, revitalized at Real Betis, could fetch a fee from Betis or Bayer Leverkusen, though United will lose money on his £86.3 million transfer.
The need for sales extends beyond wingers. Casemiro’s £300,000-a-week contract and declining mobility make him a likely exit, despite his leadership.
André Onana, despite Amorim’s backing, faces Saudi interest, with Porto’s Diogo Costa and Lille’s Lucas Chevalier on a six-man goalkeeper shortlist if he departs.
Christian Eriksen’s contract expiration in July 2025 will save wages, but the loss of experienced players risks destabilizing a dressing room already reeling from a “disaster season,” as Amorim called it.
Fans on X express frustration, with one post noting, “Amorim’s hands are tied—sell before you buy is brutal for a squad this poor.”
Another warned, “Without sales, we’re stuck with the same flops.” Ryan Giggs, a United legend, echoed the sentiment, urging players to adapt or leave, citing Amorim’s need for “three to four windows” to build a competitive side.
With only 40-50 matches next season, Amorim has time to drill his tactics, but limited funds could stall progress. A potential swap deal with Juventus for Douglas Luiz, involving Sancho, offers hope, but United’s financial constraints mean every move must be calculated. Amorim’s promise of “good days” hinges on ruthless sales to reshape a squad in his image.
