Need to know
Deadline day is upon us, and although Manchester United have been quiet so far in the January window, they still have some time to seal a last-gasp deal
Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Southampton FC
Manchester United supposedly have some funds to work with if they want to spend on deadline day(Image: Getty)
Everything you need to know about Manchester United's deadline day budget with the window closing soon
United enter the final hours of the January transfer window with a substantial £100million budget available. That is according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, who told MEN Sport this spending capacity remains intact despite the club's lack of European income.
Following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, the recruitment process, originally based on his collaboration with director Jason Wilcox, has pivoted under Michael Carrick. But the club is still expected to use its funds to target midfielders and other key positions either in this window or the next.
There is also supposedly no financial requirement for the club to offload assets like Kobbie Mainoo to fund any late-window acquisitions. Maguire notes that United's finances are acceptable at the moment for current spending, meaning any player departures would be used to reduce debt rather than facilitate potential new arrivals.
If United do make a move, they are likely to purchase players on credit, a tactic that spreads the cost of deadline-day signings over several years. This accounting approach ensures that a £100m splash would not immediately deplete cash reserves if they were to make a move.
The primary motivation for spending could be the desperate need to secure Champions League qualification, which is valued at upwards of £150m. The hierarchy reportedly views the financial risk of missing out on Europe as far more damaging than the cost of last-minute reinforcements.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have bankrolled this prospective transfer budget through aggressive internal cost-cutting, including hundreds of staff redundancies and increased ticket prices. Maguire says these decisions were made specifically to "milk" revenue streams and ensure the club remains competitive.
Although United carry an overdraft of approximately £748m and owe £466m in outstanding transfer fees, these are not immediate barriers to spending. Maguire suggests these liabilities represent a greater concern for the summer of 2026 than for the closing hours of this January window.
United continue to record the highest EBITDA profits and second-highest revenues in the Premier League. This strong commercial foundation allows the club to spend roughly half its revenue on wages while maintaining the capacity for deadline day activity.