The Red Devils have the third-highest net spend in the Premier League this summer despite the co-owner insisting they are strapped for cash
"At INEOS, we run a lean organisation," said Sir Jim Ratcliffe in March. "As my mother said, you look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves."
The Manchester United co-owner was trying to use relatable terms to justifying his swingeing cuts to the club he had taken over the previous year. Ratcliffe was effectively likening the reductions he had made to buying home label items from the supermarket over luxury brands.
Over the summer, however, United have not exactly been looking after the pennies. In June, they signed Matheus Cunha for £62.5 million ($83m), and in July they added Bryan Mbeumo for an initial £65m ($86.5m), which could rise to £71m ($94.5m). And they are not done yet; United are hoping to add Benjamin Sesko to their squad, a deal which will cost at least £69m ($92m) if they are able to beat Newcastle to the Slovenian's signature, taking their total net spend to £205m on three attackers.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, wants them to sign even more players, describing his team's overall attitude as "lazy" and claiming there must be more competition for places. Given United ended last season 15th in the Premier League, it is easy to see why Fernandes wants a more competitive squad, but how exactly can Ratcliffe plead poverty and justify his brutal costs with one hand while throwing cash around with the other?