Manchester United will be approaching the summer transfer window with caution and may shy away from splashing big money on big names, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
The Red Devils are expected to strengthen their squad ahead of next season as head coach Ruben Amorim prepares for his first full season in charge, and they could do with quality players across every department.
Man United fans are crying out for a star striker and are hoping the likes of Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres or his Napoli counterpart Victor Osimhen (currently on loan at Galatasaray) can be snapped up, but Ornstein does not see the club going towards that direction as far as summer recruitment goes.
“While United will be formulating plans, their budgets will be heavily influenced by factors such as European qualification and player exits,” the journalist replied when asked during a Q&A if Man United have the financial strength to spend over £50 million on individual signings this summer.
“We expect them to have room to manoeuvre in the market, but there will definitely be some caution when it comes to splashing big money on big names, as we’ve seen in the past. That’s not to say they won’t be able to do it, more that we’re hearing their preference will be to continue what has been their approach more recently; younger talents costing lower transfer fees and salaries, who fit Ruben Amorim’s system/style and can develop into top players with increased market value.
“So I’d imagine there will be further recruits along the lines you mention rather than going for the likes of Gyokeres and Osimhen. Please don’t hold me to that because you never know in this unpredictable industry, but that is the direction of travel being explained to us.”
Given their need to stay within the confines of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules going forward, the Red Devils will be wary of spending big on players anytime soon and are likely to stick with signing hidden gems.
They have had no luck with recent big-money signings and have now changed their strategy as they look to make the Old Trafford club a formidable force in England and Europe once again.
The onus is on the scouting department of Man United to identify some of the best youngsters across the globe and go after them before other suitors, but whether that will be enough to get them back to the pinnacle remains to be seen.