The Manchester United Sales Dilemma: Why Can’t They Monetize Their Signings?
In elite football, managing transfers is an art that goes beyond the mere acquisition of talent. A clear example of this is Manchester United, a club that faces a significant challenge in terms of selling players, contrasting with the efficiency of its Premier League rivals. A curious fact illustrates the situation: Daniel James is the only player who, having arrived at the club after the Sir Alex Ferguson era, has been sold for a sum greater than what his signing cost. James, acquired for 15 million pounds in 2019, was transferred to Leeds two years later for 25 million. Despite these moves, United has not achieved great profits from the sale of players in recent years. The sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli for 25.7 million pounds is the highest sale in a decade, excluding the departures of Ángel Di María and Romelu Lukaku, which generated losses. With the 2025 transfer window about to close, United faces the need to sell players to balance its finances and comply with Premier League regulations. However, despite investing almost £200 million in new signings, the club has not generated significant revenue from sales. The situation of players like Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, available for months, and the possible departure of Rasmus Højlund, demonstrate the club’s difficulty in finding buyers willing to pay adequate prices. In an ideal scenario, United would hope to raise around £120 million from sales, but time is running out and the need to sell weakens their negotiating position. The club has suffered from paying high salaries to players who have not performed, and the loss of value in mid-range signings has defined their departures.
Image: Manchester United’s failure to sell unwanted players like Alejandro Garnacho continues its recent trend of errors in the transfer market.
This situation contrasts with the strategy of other Premier League clubs. Liverpool, for example, has made significant profits from the sale of players like Luis Díaz and has successfully managed the departure of youth players. Manchester City has also stood out for the sale of its young talents, generating significant revenue. The United’s lack of ability to profit from player sales could be an indication of why the team has failed to compete for the most important titles since Ferguson’s departure. The difficulty in finding new clubs for players like David de Gea, Anthony Martial, Victor Lindelöf, and Christian Eriksen, released at the end of last season, reflects the team’s situation. With the arrival of Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell in key roles at the club, the challenge is clear: to improve the appeal of United players and learn to generate revenue like Liverpool and City do. The future of Sancho, Garnacho, Malacia, Antony, and Højlund in the coming weeks will define whether United manages to change this trend.
