- Manchester United faces financial constraints ahead of the summer transfer window, making player sales crucial for reinforcements
- The club was unable to replace Marcus Rashford and Antony, despite loaning them out and offloading a significant portion of their wages
- Injuries to Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw further complicate squad depth, with both players expected to miss extended periods
Key Takeaways:
Manchester United is set for another challenging transfer window in the summer due to financial limitations. Strengthening Ruben Amorim’s squad will largely depend on generating funds through player sales, as the club continues to navigate budgetary restrictions.
During the winter transfer window, United spent just £25.1 million on Patrick Dorgu from Lecce and an additional £1.5 million on Ayden Heaven from Arsenal. Despite loaning out Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa and Antony to Betis, the club could not bring in replacements. Aston Villa is covering at least 75% of Rashford’s £365,000 weekly wages, while Betis is paying 84% of Antony’s £150,000 weekly salary, but the savings were not enough to fund new signings.
🚨 BREAKING: Luke Shaw has suffered a setback to his current injury. He'll be out for at least another four weeks, depending on treatment and rehab. [@UtdMenace] #mufc pic.twitter.com/w1EJcHL9WU
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) February 5, 2025
The financial situation also prevented United from signing a replacement for Lisandro Martínez, who suffered an ACL injury in the recent 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The defender is expected to miss the rest of the season, further weakening Amorim’s options in defence.
Luke Shaw has also been ruled out for at least four weeks after sustaining another injury. The left-back has played just three matches this season and has now suffered his fourth injury since August. Shaw missed most of last season due to a muscle injury in February, only returning in time to feature for England in Euro 2024. Another setback before the start of the current campaign has further limited his availability for the club.