The first transfer deadline for Man United is looming and Sir Jim Ratcliffe could spend big

The first transfer deadline for Man United is looming and Sir Jim Ratcliffe could spend big

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United are watching on as Premier League clubs scramble to get a boatlod of transfer deals done before June 30 – and could look to capitalise with a monster move of their own.

 

 

Four clubs – Newcastle United, Everton, Aston Villa and Chelsea – look to be playing their own version of transfer swaps, but without the Panini sticker books, as they race to get business completed in time to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

 

Chelsea and Villa’s business looks to see Ian Maatsen move from Stamford Bridge to Villa Park in a £37.5million deal that will see the Blues bank virtually all of that fee in their profit column, given the player has been on their books since he was 16. For Villa, they can amortise that fee over five years, meaning only £7.5million is outlayed in this year’s accounts.

 

In return, Chelsea are set to sign Omari Kellyman – an 18-year-old striker now valued at just shy of £20m. The teenager was only bought by Villa from Chelsea for £600k a year ago and has since played just 715 minutes of football in the Premier League 2 and 35 minutes in the Premier League, yet has seen ‘his value’ rocket by around £19m.

 

Villa are also involved with Everton in a similar process. They have signed Lewis Dobbin from the Toffees for £10m, despite his transfer valuation currently sitting around £2m. Going the other way, Everton have bought Tim Iroegbunam from Villa for a fee of £9m, despite his Transfermarkt valuation being £4m.

 

Everton and Newcastle are also in dialogue. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is eyed by the Magpies in a £20m swoop while young winger Yankuba Minteh – only bought for £4m from Odense 12 months ago – could potentially move in the opposite direction. The Gambian forward impressed on loan at Feyenoord last season and has incredibly had a £40m price tag slapped on his head, with the likes of Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Roma linked with him.

 

United have been watching this process closely, especially the goings on at Goodison Park, as they weigh up a second offer for Jarrad Branthwaite after Everton rejected an opening bid of £35million for the England international. The deal, which included add-ons which would have taken it up to £43m, was dismissed out of hand by the Merseyside outfit, who felt it was derisory for a player they value between £70m-£80m.

 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is determined that United won’t pay over the odds for players any longer, having previously talked about ‘dumb money’ the club has spent in the transfer market. And with the financial regulations on every club’s mind, and a huge squad rebuild needed at Old Trafford, the transfer kitty is critical.

 

MEN Sport’s football finance writer Dave Powell has taken a look at United’s PSR position, and believes there is such wiggle room available that United could comfortably have afforded to go in with an £80m offer for Branthwaite.

 

“United have got £31m left to play with in terms of their PSR position, based on some estimates from the current financial year which ends on June 30,” said Powell.

 

“To sign Branthwaite, if you were looking at £80m, you can amortise that over a maximum of five years. So divide the £80m by five and it’s about £16m a year. So yes, they do still have room for manoeuvre with the fee.

 

“Plus, any players they sell they are able to recoup and book that straight onto the accounts, whereas any players they sign it’s like spending it on tick over a five-year period. So in short, they can increase their bid.”

 

And not just a bid for Branthwaite, but bids elsewhere. United are looking at signing a striker and centre midfielder, along with a new defender. Joshua Zirkzee is one of the leading targets to fill the attacking void left by Anthony Martial with a release clause of around £33m becoming active next week.

 

Despite any financial misgivings, given the ‘spare’ £31m United have to play with in their PSR calculations, and amortisation over five years, it means Ratcliffe could spend up to £155m before the end of the month. Whether he wishes to is another issue.

 

United need to do a lot of transfer business this summer and after last season’s disastrous eighth-placed finish, they need to get it right. Signings, ideally, would be made early and with the financial flexibility at their disposal that other clubs don’t possess, they could take advantage in the next six days.