Manchester United transfer news as Champions League football shouldn't be the biggest concern at Old Trafford this summer
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Avram Glazer, co owner alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Ineos and co-owner of Manchester United
Avram Glazer, co owner alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Ineos and co-owner of Manchester United
(Image: Getty Images)
One of the main concerns that came out of Manchester United's Europa League final defeat to Tottenham was the detrimental impact it'll have on their summer transfer plans.
United's loss in Bilbao means they will have no European football for only the second season in the last 35 years. It also means there will be no Champions League football at Old Trafford for the second successive season for the first time since 1993.
Going into the final on Wednesday night, there was emphasis on United needing to win just to stay afloat and compete in the transfer market. Now, they are left with the unenviable task of convincing players to join them with no clear vision of the Red Devils returning to the pinnacle of football.
Post-match, Amorim confirmed that the club drafted two different plans for the transfer window. One for if they were victorious in Bilbao and one if they lost. Unfortunately, the latter plan will now be implemented.
Matheus Cunha is expected to sign from Wolves for just over £60million and Liam Delap, who has a £30m release clause at Ipswich Town, has held talks over a move. However, their pull in signing their top targets has been harmed by Wednesday night and what they can do this summer is now limited.
Prize money from the Europa League, albeit not reaching the levels of the Champions League, leaves a huge hole for United. Tottenham will receive a combination of the prize money for winning the competition and reaching the 2025/26 Champions League league phase, understood to be around £54.4m.
The Champions League trophy
The Champions League is Europe's most prestigious club competition
Going further in the competition will give Spurs more money with bonuses based on league position and every round they reach. According to the Daily Mail, winning the Europa League final is worth around £100m, a figure that could be £152m.
"A good season in the Champions League can be worth far in excess of £100m," football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport. "By the time you combine gate receipts, sponsor bonuses and the prize money available, the numbers involved are eye-watering."
Qualifying for the Champions League automatically earns a windfall of £15.7m with a win worth £1.8m and a draw worth £600,000. Winning every game would earn a hefty £14.4m, a very close figure to the total Europa League final prize money for this campaign.
Every league position is worth £230,000 with this season's first-placed side, Liverpool, being handed £8.3m for their league position alone. Automatic progress to the last 16 is a bonus of £1.7m and finishing in the play-offs - ninth to 16th - worth around £850,000.
Manchester United Head Coach Ruben Amorim
Manchester United will miss out on more than just playing Champions League football
The prize money goes up as the competition progresses with just under £10m handed out for the last 16. Add matchday income and sponsorship deals, and the figure the Champions League brings in easily surpasses £105m.
It's fair to say that missing out on Champions League football is a big blow for United. How much of a blow, for Amorim and his transfer plans, is yet to be seen but the early indications don't bode well.
Viktor Gyokeres, who is likely to join one of United or Arsenal, now has a decision to make. Do you reunite with Amorim and help in the attempt to turn United around? Or do you become the missing piece in one of the world's current best teams and compete for titles?
Having the Champions League on offer made United an attractive option for Gyokeres and other targets. Now, it isn't. The prize money the club are missing out on is a blow, but it's also damaging in their efforts to conduct their transfer overhaul.