If the tenure of Ineos at Manchester United was to be summed up in a single phrase, it would aptly be “penny-pinching”, which they would argue is necessary.
It would come as a huge relief for them, then, that they can save nearly £21 million/year from next season onwards by just sitting on their hands.
That is the kind of saving they must be dreaming of when they were taking away £40k annually from ex-players’ funds or thinking of cutting benefits for specially abled supporters.
To make matters even better, they won’t even be losing any optics fight over it. In fact, it’s long overdue and signals a positive change.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Man Utd’s £21 million/year saving
At a time when it has been reported that Man Utd could find themselves saddled with Jadon Sancho again, along with his £250k/week wages, any saving is most welcome.
The timing is just as well because even if they are bogged down by £250k/week, there’s a clear path to clearing nearly £380k/week.
All they have to do to manage that? Nothing. That is because that huge figure is a combination of the wages of multiple players who are set to leave the club.
United will be approaching the end of four expiring contract in the summer totalling up to £380k/week – Christian Eriksen (£150k/week), Victor Lindelof (£120k/week), Jonny Evans (£65k/week), and Tom Heaton (£45k/week), as per Capology.
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While none of those players is very important to Ruben Amorim anymore, this is the type of marginal gain that Sir Dave Brailsford would be proud of, adding up to £21 million over the whole year.
This type of decision-making can’t even be taken for granted because, for Man Utd fans, it’s a new and welcome change.
A long overdue change
Nobody can forget Ed Woodward senselessly extending contracts of fringe players to “protect their book value”, resulting in duds like Phil Jones or Anthony Martial sitting on a king’s ransom while making guest appearances.
None of that is the player’s fault, but Ineos have finally started taking a long-term view of the squad and making ruthless decisions instead of kicking the can down the road.
Eriksen has been a capable contributor but his best days are behind him and Victor Lindelof just doesn’t suit Ruben Amorim’s philosophy.
Heaton and Evans will probably retire after being crucial parts of the dressing room so moving on from them and saving money to be reinvested is the right thing to do.
It might be common sense for other clubs but it’s a long overdue change at Old Trafford.