Manchester United appear cash-strapped, yet are pushing to sign Benjamin Sesko in a £73.8m deal. Here’s how clever transfer structuring and strategic cost-cutting are making it possible.
At a time when Manchester United have made headlines for staff layoffs and even cutting free lunches, many fans are left scratching their heads: How can a club seemingly so cash-strapped afford a blockbuster move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko?
The answer lies in smart financial planning, strategic player sales, and debunking some of the myths around the club’s current debt situation.
“When Manchester United sneeze, football catches a cold,” said Kieran Maguire, a leading football finance expert. “It’s still the biggest brand in English football.”
Despite ongoing cost-cutting measures — led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team — United have cleverly structured their summer activity to make big spending possible.
Transfer Spending Backed by Long-Term Planning
Sources close to the club told BBC Sport that any potential Sesko deal — which could rise to £73.8 million — would likely follow the same financial blueprint as United’s other summer signings: payment spread over the length of the player’s contract.
This is how United have managed to secure Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford respectively, through £130 million in total agreements, structured in favorable instalments.
Crucially, they’ve also offset costs by offloading high-salary players. For example:
Barcelona are covering Marcus Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages during his loan spell.
A £5 million compensation came from Chelsea after they withdrew from signing Jadon Sancho.
Sell-on clauses brought in over £15 million, thanks to moves involving Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Carreras, and Maxi Oyedele.
Some of the Scare Stories Were Overblown
Beyond those deals, United also earned fees from the sales of Mason Greenwood and Scott McTominay last summer. More sales are expected this window — Alejandro Garnacho among the most likely departures — as the club aims to generate funds through what insiders call the “bomb squad.”
“Even if United spend £200m this summer, it averages out to around £40m a year — and they’ll recover that via player sales,” Maguire explained.
On top of that, United reached the Europa League final last season and, despite underwhelming performances in the Premier League, still rank among Europe’s top commercial machines.
In June, they revised their core profit projection to £180m–£190m, up from earlier expectations of £145m–£160m.
Maguire concluded:
“Some of the doom-and-gloom stories a few months back were overstated. Sure, United aren’t a perfect business — but they’re still successful. Their wage-to-income ratio is about 50%, which is strong by Premier League standards.”
Man Utd Are Not in as Good a Position as Liverpool or Chelsea
Still, it’s not all smooth sailing at Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe admitted United were close to running out of money earlier this year and described the current transition period as “disruptive.”
“If you spend more than you earn, eventually that’s the road to ruin,” Ratcliffe warned.
The club’s operating costs had ballooned over seven consecutive seasons, exceeding revenue. Now, Ineos is flipping that equation — by cutting internal expenses while prioritizing squad investment.
“We’d rather invest in the best players in the world than keep spending on operating overheads,” Ratcliffe told the BBC. “Free lunches or fringe stars — which one matters more?”
Despite efforts to modernize and balance the books, United are still facing constraints. Their £131m loss in 2023–24 — even though partly caused by one-time Ineos-related expenses — points to structural challenges that haven’t vanished.
“United can’t spend like Liverpool or Chelsea,” Maguire added. “Of the so-called ‘big six,’ they’re not in the best shape. But they remain in a strong position overall.”
United boast the Premier League’s largest stadium, ensuring top-tier matchday revenues, and continue to rank among the highest globally in commercial income.
As a brand, Manchester United remains magnetic — and while Sesko’s signing may not come cheap, the club’s carefully layered financial strategy is proving just enough to bridge ambition with reality.
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