Manchester United have made a strong start to the summer transfer window but momentum is slowly grinding to a halt.
On the very first day of the window, Ineos kickstarted the summer rebuild with a £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha from Wolves.
Following the disappointment of the 2024/25 campaign and the Europa League final defeat, some good news was needed and Cunha’s arrival was just that.
Now, United have made two bids for Bryan Mbeumo and remain in talks with Brentford to get a deal over the line. With a fee expected around £62m again, the two attacking signings will have eaten up much of Ineos’ budget.
But reports suggest Ineos want four signings after Mbeumo. For that to happen, sales are needed, but so far that has been a stumbling block.
Antony, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United lift the Carabao Cup
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images,
Ineos are struggling to shift overpaid Glazer contracts
Heading into the summer, Ineos were confident about selling Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho before the transfer deadline on September 1.
All three players were sent on loan last season after being deemed excess to requirements or frozen out of the squad.
Either way, selling the three wingers is a must this summer in order for Ineos to fund the rest of their transfer plans.
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But Rashford has his heart set on Barcelona, Real Betis are struggling to afford Antony and Sancho is refusing to accept a wage cut.
Ultimately, all three players are among the top earners at Old Trafford and that is precisely why Ineos are finding it so hard to offload them.
Accepting loan deals for the trio would only kick the can down the road and lower their value for next summer, but Ineos are running out of options.
Terminating their deals isn’t even a valid option, as ripping up Sancho’s contract would cost £31.6m.
Glazers are to blame for £43m contract problem
Jadon Sancho and Antony both joined United under the Glazers, while Marcus Rashford’s latest big-money contract was agreed before the Ineos takeover.
Rashford is currently earning £300,000 per week at United, Sancho pockets £325,000 per week and Antony is earning £200,000 per week. Even during their loan deals last season, United were stuck paying at least a portion of those salaries.
Combined, those three contracts cost United £43m per year, which is what Ineos will be left covering if they cannot find buyers for the three unwanted wingers.
By signing Cunha, and hopefully Mbeumo soon, Ruben Amorim has already replaced the three wingers in his squad but actually getting them to leave is proving difficult.
Ineos are regaining control of United’s wage bill by being more sensible with wages and big-money contracts, but they are still suffering from poor decisions made by previous owners.
That should be remembered if United’s transfer plans do fall apart.