Across the Premier League, different transfer windows can be remembered for varying themes.
For instance the 2024 summer window was remembered as the year where PSR put the squeeze on many clubs, with teams desperately wheeling and dealing and even conducting swap deals in attempts to try and circumvent the rules.
2025 will represent the summer of player power, in which Alexander Isak sulked his way to a £125 million Premier League record deal.
He was not the only one. Yoan Wissa downed tools at Brentford to force his £55 million move to Newcastle, ensuring his new club can have few complaints having lost Isak in the same way.
Newcastle were not the only club to feel the impact of player power, with Manchester United benefitting and losing out in very different ways.
Benjamin Sesko during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.
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Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko were successes
Manchester United saw the positive side of the player power debate with some of the club’s summer signings.
Brentford wanted to get a bidding war going for Bryan Mbeumo to drive up the price, dragging out the saga as long as possible.
They held talks with Tottenham and even Chelsea, in an attempt to get the maximum possible fee they could for the Cameroon international.
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Ultimately their plans were stunted by Mbeumo’s express desire to land his ‘dream move’ to Manchester United.
And then there was the case of Benjamin Sesko, who signed for United for £66 million. Newcastle actually offered more money to RB Leipzig in a desperate attempt to outbid Manchester United.
If the power was with the German club, they would have accepted the deal with the best financial terms to them, and not the one that was Sesko’s preference.
Manchester United have a unique pull. It is one that the club has consistently benefitted from, and one that has been needed amid a lack of European football.
Antony celebrates with Alejandro Garnacho just behind him
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Alejandro Garnacho and Antony sales disappointed United
Manchester United were glad to offload both Alejandro Garnacho and Antony, along with Jadon Sancho. But the terms were not ideal.
In a situation that mirrored United’s success, offering a disappointing counter-side, Manchester United lost out financially due to player power.
Garnacho was a player Manchester United valued at £70 million. But due to his desire to sign for Chelsea, and only Chelsea, the Blues were effectively the only bidder, driving his price down to £40 million.
This was not a situation where United could simply sell Garnacho to a team of their choice. This does not appear to happen in modern football anymore.
The same situation played out with Antony, where there were enquiries from Saudi Pro League clubs.
Antony insisted only on a move to Real Betis, which ended up with United settling on agreeing a £21 million sale representing a major loss on the fee paid for him.
Unfortunately it appears ‘player power’ is here to stay in football, and Manchester United need to find a way to navigate it.
The size of United means there are likely to be more Sesko and Mbeumo situations where the club benefit from it. And on the other side, United need to manage the wage bill and contracts carefully to give them a little more leeway when it comes to selling players.