Manchester United don’t yet know their transfer budget – but £70m decision could soon change that

Manchester United’s transfer budget for the summer window is currently limited, estimated to be around £50m. However, the club is working to increase this amount by selling several players. The failure to qualify for the Champions League and an early exit from European competition last season have put a strain on United’s finances, and the club’s owners, Ineos, are keen to keep spending in check.

The priority for United is to sign a centre-back and a striker, but the initial budget will not be enough to secure the targets. The club has already made an opening bid of £43m for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, which was rejected. If United are successful in signing Branthwaite, it will likely use up most of the initial budget.To increase the transfer kitty, United are looking to sell players.

The departures of high-earners Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial have already created some room on the books. The club is also trying to sell Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood, with Juventus and Napoli interested in the former and Borussia Dortmund and Italian clubs interested in the latter. If United can sell both players for a combined £70m or more, it will significantly boost the transfer budget.Other players who could leave Old Trafford this summer include Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Casemiro.

The futures of Antony and Marcus Rashford are also uncertain.United’s transfer team, led by technical director Jason Wilcox and director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves, is working to add to the transfer budget. If they can increase it by £100m, it will be a significant achievement.The club’s ability to sell players will be crucial in determining the success of the transfer window. In recent years, United have struggled to move on players, but this summer, they appear to be taking a more ruthless approach.

The early progress in selling Sancho and Greenwood is encouraging, and if the club can capitalize on their loan spells last season, it will give them more leeway to push for a striker.If United can get deals done swiftly and drive value for the players who leave, it will give the impression that Ineos mean business. The club’s transfer budget may not be the largest in the Premier League, but with some clever maneuvering and a bit of ruthlessness, United can still make some significant signings this summer.