Man United's financial situation explained as Red Devils plan 'eye-catching' summer transfer window

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has explained why Manchester United will be able to be busy during this summer's transfer window despite their struggles last season.

A disastrous 2024-25 campaign saw the Red Devils finish down in 15th spot in the Premier League table, while they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League.

As a result, Man United will not operate in Europe next term, which will have a huge impact on their finances.

However, the 20-time English champions have already agreed a big-money deal for Matheus Cunha and are planning further arrivals before the summer market closes for business.

Maguire has explained how Man United are able to continue spending despite their financial problems.

Man United are set to be busy during the summer transfer window

"Remember that when a club signs a player, the cost is actually spread over the life of the contract. So in the case of Matheus Cunha, it's £1m a month. So it's not £60m that's going out of the PSR calculation," Maguire told Sky Sports News.

"We also need to remember that this is Manchester United, so sponsors still want to be associated with them. Fans will still flock to Old Trafford. And I think they will be anticipating a better season in the Premier League next season.

"And I think the third main issue is all of the focus has been on Manchester United PLC's accounts, which are registered in New York. And there we saw a loss of £131m last year. But that is not the company which is used for PSR purposes, because you've got to be based in the UK.

"It looks as if Manchester United have been using another company called Red Football, and the losses there were only £36m. So therefore, they're £100m better off for PSR purposes on the back of that. 

"Manchester United is still a destination club as far as many players are concerned. They want to play in front of Old Trafford because it's an iconic stadium. It's a fanatical fan base and all of the positives that that brings. So that can offset perhaps some of the financial issues."

Who else could Man United sign this summer?

Man United continue to be linked with a big-money move for Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, with the Red Devils seemingly in pole position when it comes to a deal for the Sweden international.

However, Sporting's president has insisted that Gyokeres will not be allowed to leave on the cheap, and that is a transfer saga which is likely to last a few more weeks at least.

Man United are also keen on Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo, although Thomas Frank's expected arrival at Tottenham Hotspur has put Spurs firmly in the race for his signature.

The Red Devils are also expected to sign a new goalkeeper this summer due to Andre Onana's struggles, while there will be a host of first-team exits, as head coach Ruben Amorim looks to put together a squad capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system which remains the subject of much scrutiny.

Written by
Matt Law