Manchester United have been busy in the transfer market this summer, but are still looking to add to their squad ahead of the new season, with those plans being discussed by Roy Keane
Roy Keane speaking on the Stick to Football podcast
Roy Keane wasn't shy to have his say on Manchester United's spending
Roy Keane is not happy that Manchester United are being linked with two mega-money transfers just months after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's decision to cut staff meals.
The Premier League club has splashed out over £210million this summer following one of their worst seasons in recent history. The club has welcomed new players such as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, with Ruben Amorim revamping his attacking line-up through significant spending.
However, despite these changes, the Red Devils still face challenges in defence and midfield, with no new signings to bolster these areas. United have shown interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba, who is reportedly valued at £100million by the Seagulls. The club do not want to sell and are looking for a substantial fee to part ways with the promising 21-year-old.
Additionally, the Red Devils have been linked with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who recently announced his contentious departure from the French champions after being overlooked by Luis Enrique. While there are rumours that Donnarumma may join City, United have also been associated with other high-profile transfers, including Emiliano Martinez and Adam Wharton.
The potential new arrivals were a hot topic on the latest episode of The Overlap's Rest is Football podcast, where Keane questioned United's possible additional spending. "If United were to get him [Donnarumma] and there's talk of Baleba from Brighton, which I can't believe," began Gary Neville, reports the Mirror.
When Keane queried how United would find the funds for Donnarumma and Baleba, Jamie Carragher chimed in: "I thought they were going bankrupt. They were months away from going bust weren't they?"
Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha posing with their Manchester United kits
Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha represent a new era of Man United's attack
The Liverpool legend was referring to Ratcliffe's earlier statement this year, in which he claimed that without several rounds of redundancies and cutbacks on staff meals, the club would have been out of money by Christmas this year.
"Manchester United would have run out of cash by the end of this year - by the end of 2025 - after having me put £232.72m ($300m) in and if we buy no new players in the summer, he told the BBC. "We are in the process of change and it's an uncomfortable period and disruptive and I do feel sympathy with the fans.
"The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don't do those things." In a light-hearted jibe on the podcast, Keane asked: "Are the staff gonna get their sandwiches back?"
In February, it was announced that free lunches for staff at Old Trafford and Carrington had been discontinued, along with the closure of the stadium's staff canteen.
Whilst Keane acknowledged that United's beleaguered midfield will gain some relief thanks to the new attackers' ability to press forward, it continues to pose a challenge for Amorim.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe speaks with Gary Neville
Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed the club would have run out of money by Christmas this year
The former United captain explained: "There's slightly less pressure on their midfield, don't get me wrong, but that will be the problem that'll still hold them back over the next year or two unless they bring in players.
"But they have to start somewhere. They weren't going to bring seven or eight players." When Neville enquired whether he thought they could secure a move for Baleba, Keane cited one primary reason why a deal wouldn't materialise.
"I'd be surprised if it happens," he added. "I still think he's got to do a bit more. It's still potential. You can't pay £100m for a player that you don't know where it's going to go." Amorim's revamped United attack will encounter an instant litmus test as the Red Devils' campaign begins on Sunday when they welcome Arsenal.