MANCHESTER United are staring at a £100million-plus black hole as the cost of their season of Hell is laid bare.
Boss Ruben Amorim was left powerless as his side crashed out of the FA Cup in Sunday’s penalty shoot-out defeat by Fulham.
Ruben Amorim faces a make-or-break tie with Real Sociedad later this week[/caption]
The form of Rasmus Hojlund is a huge concern to the Man Utd boss[/caption]
Amorim could be forced into selling his young stars in the summer to meet PSR rules[/caption]
With United currently on course for their all-time worst PL finish, their only chance of salvation is from the Europa League.
United travel to Spain to face Real Sociedad in the first leg of the last 16 on Thursday, aiming to give Amorim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos and the increasingly unhappy fans something positive to work with.
But failure to emerge through three knock-out rounds and lift the trophy in Bilbao on May 21 will have a dramatic effect on Amorim’s summer funds and potential spending plans.
Qualification for the Champions League would be worth around £50m for United without kicking a ball, with a further £30m in bonus and prize money for reaching the last 16.
That does not take into account around £25m in gate receipts from four home games in the league phase and one knock-out tie.
United’s new kit sponsorship deal with Adidas includes a £10m penalty clause for each season they are not in the Champions League.
And with United currently 14th, they are on course to drop another £31m from the amount they would have earned from the Prem by making the top four.
It all adds up to a huge headache for Amorim and the club – which has already announced that ticket price increases and a major cost-cutting programme is required as the Old Trafford hierarchy conjure with looming Profitability and Sustainability Rules issues.
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The confirmation from Prem chiefs that PSR will still apply next season, with clubs only allowed to make “permitted losses” of £105m over three years, will plunge United into further financial concerns.
But PSR requirements and the impact of this season’s failures on the club’s income stream may now force Amorim to sell the family silver in this summer’s transfer market – and prevent him getting rid of some of the under-achieving players.
Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund endured another horror outing against Fulham, having just nine touches and completing a mere two passes in his 68 minutes on the pitch.
Hojlund has scored just twice in the Prem this season and has only five top-flight goals in 32 appearances over the past 12 months.
United paid Atalanta an up-front £64m – potentially rising to £72m – two years ago, with the striker signing a five-year deal.
Man Utd ratings vs Fulham
MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out the FA Cup on penalties against Fulham.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had poor spot-kicks saved as the Red Devils slipped to their sixth home defeat under Ruben Amorim.
Fulham broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked corner.
Antonee Robinson darted to the near post and flicked it onto Calvin Bassey who directed his header into the bottom corner brilliantly.
Just as United’s frustrations were brewing, Bruno Fernandes was the saviour yet again.
He picked up Diogo Dalot’s perfect cut back and fired it beyond the stretch of Bernd Leno.
United had chances towards the end of the second-half, with subs Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi unable to finish.
There was nothing to separate the sides in extra-time and penalties were needed.
Despite well-taken kicks from Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Casemiro, Lindelof and Zirkzee woefully fired directly at Fulham hero Leno.
But which Man Utd players could hold their heads up and which flopped?
That means he has an “amortisation” cost of £38.4m – the transfer sale value below which it would NEGATIVELY impact United’s finances – at the end of the season.
United also need to get in £34.4m for Brazilian flop Antony – currently on loan at Real Betis – or £29.2m for struggling Joshua Zirkzee to start to “make” money on a sale.
By contrast, any funds raised by selling on-loan Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho or skipper Bruno Fernandes could be calculated at the full value of the deal.
And that financial reality is one that could lead to big decisions being made if Ratcliffe and Ineos are prepared to build a squad designed to play in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation.
It all adds up to a major nightmare off the pitch in addition to the clear problems facing United on it.
