Solskjaer has ’only’ 90 million to spend, has to sell in June

Everybody likes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new Manchester United. The fans love that the Red Devils are second in the League, the executives are thrilled that the rebuilt came a year earlier (and will give the Norwegian a new contract) and the coach himself must be pleased with how are his ideas executed on the football field. But, everybody wants more. Fans and the board want the title challenge next season, but the Covid-19 pandemic has slashed the transfer budget. In order to buy what he wants, Solskjaer will have to sell.

The next season's budget will be around 90 million euros, per various reports, but when a club like Manchester comes for a player, any player, it won’t be a bargain. Every other club will see that as a big payday and will command the highest possible fee. On the other hand, when United sell, the wages of those players are just astronomic for 70% of the clubs around the world, so the selling also becomes a problem. If a player just wants to leave in order to play the game, he will take a pay-cut. The others will stay in the club forever, just to pick up the wages. Solskajer apparently wants a centre-back, a right-winger, a defensive midfielder, and – depending on Edinson Cavani’s future – a centre forward this summer. So, who are the players on the transfer list and how much can he get for them?

Harry Kane (©AFP)

According to Metro (and also according to anyone following the Red Devils), those players are Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot, Edinson Cavani, and Donny van de Beek. The first four are surplus to requirements, the last two want to leave. And who will come? Jadon Sancho, Nemanja Milenkovic or Jonathan Tah, and a striker (if Cavani leaves).

Erling Haaland is already out of reach, but the Red Devils are not officially out of the race. Borussia Dortmund will command at least 100 million euros if he wants to go in June, and there are at least three clubs who could pay that sum right now. If he stays, his exit clause next season will be 75 million euros. Harry Kane will probably leave Tottenham in order to win some trophies, and the Spurs have serious debt, but the Red Devils will face Manchester City as a competitor for the English international (in case Pep doesn’t buy Haaland). Also, with a budget of about 90 million (plus the money from the player's sale), it would be hard to buy both Kane and Sancho.

Nemanja Milenkovic (©AFP)

What about defenders? Many people and almost all TV pundits are together in this: Maguire and Lindelof are not the best partners, and since Maguire is the captain (and was bought for more money), they will find another partner for the English international. Jonathan Tah and Nemanja Milenkovic fit the required mould and would cost probably the same (around 35 euros). The difference is that Tah is much more experienced (25), a regular starter in Bayer Leverkusen for years with experience in the Champions League, while Milenkovic doesn’t play European competition with Fiorentina but is younger (23) and would command a less salary.

Cavani unhappy in England, eyes Boca Juniors transfer

As for the players who are about to leave, as expected, they are the ones without a future in the club for various reasons: constant injuries (Phil Jones), losing their place in the squad (Jesse Lingard, Diogo Dalot), just not good enough anymore (Juan Mata) or wanting to leave the club (Edinson Cavani and Donny van de Beek). In some cases, Solskjaer will be able to get some money, but not the exact sum he paid for them (Van de Beek, Diogo Dalot), while others will not bring any fee, but will leave the clubs and ease the wage bill (Mata, Jones). With goalkeeper Sergio Romero also out of contract, the total sum of sold/released players will maybe reach 70 million euros, not including Van de Beek (bought last year for almost 60 million), and Paul Pogba, whose agent said he will be leaving for sure. Will Solskjaer change his mind or will he be looking for another defensive midfielder, we will see. The busy period is ahead of Manchester United.