I actually believe that this is the summer United will go hard in the transfer market. This is an incredible opportunity to steal a march on everyone in the league except city and I believe the club know that. No club in the PL (city and united aside) can spend £100m+ this summer and get away with it.
For example, I would expect that currently the only clubs for example who can realistically afford Haaland are City, United, Real and PSG. Real are focused on Mbappe and apparently he has told PSG today he won't extend his contract there so it seems he is Real bound. PSG are looking at Messi, but I don't think that is possible unless Mbappe leaves because how can you afford to pay the wages of Neymar, Mbappe and Messi (whilst also paying Di Maria, Marquinos, Veratti etc). City seems the most likely destination for Haaland.
That said, I wouldn't be shocked to see United offer Dortmund £150m + Martial for Haaland and Sancho this summer. I don't think its likely, but I think we have the ability to do so.
Im with you on this one. I know we have all being scarred by the past few transfer windows and there is good reasons to believe it will be more of the same this year but I’m taking a more positive view.
The main reason I think we will be more proactive in this window is because I think it makes financial sense for us to do so.
Take Sancho as an example, his market value was £90 mil last year( most anybody was willing to pay for him not what Dortmund wanted ). This year after no fans all season, his drop in form and being a year older his value has to have dropped between 10-20mil. The market will prob correct itself back to pre covid fees within 2 years( certain the top end of the market).
That represents a hugh saving.
There would have to been lots of other opportunities we can exploit in addition to this. Woodward came out this time last year and said we were going to be in a very strong position last summer to take advantage of the covid situation and we all know how that ended. I wonder has he learn his lesson this year and keeping a strong hand closer to his chest.
Also if we were to get a deal for Sancho over the line early in the window(which I believe will happen) if anything I think it would help our bargaining position for any other deals. For Example- yes we rate Rice very highly but we have just spent most of our transfer money on Sancho and covid has left us skint how about Lingard and £30mil?!
Spending extra money in this window on the right players could see the overall value of the club/playing list improve dramatically over next couple of years. Even if it means we will have less to spend in the following 2 summer transfer windows it might be the smart thing to do.
Here’s to hoping anyways.