Manchester United are "already behind" in their summer transfer plans when compared to other clubs.
The summer transfer window represents Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first opportunity to enact serious change since the official announcement of his £1.3 billion investment in the club earlier this year. The INEOS owner arrived at United with the mission of re-establishing United at the game's apex, a height that has stubbornly eluded the club over the last decade.
While the British billionaire has made a whole host of changes on and off the pitch, with the likes of Sir Dave Brailsford proving influential while the club's hierarchy is overhauled, the summer transfer window is seen as paramount to achieving this mission.
United are in need of serious recruitment across the park. A new defender has been prioritised, while midfielder and striking reinforcement are also viewed as necessities before the start of the next season.
And according to ESPN, agents and intermediaries feel that United are lagging behind their Premier League rivals this summer. According to the report, United have denied any such suggestions, albeit there is an acceptance that this summer's recruitment will not be "up to full speed" until Dan Ashworth is in place as sporting director.
Premier League odds and betting tips
Ashworth has been on gardening leave from Newcastle United since February due to a stand-off over compensation between the two clubs. Any agreement is reportedly far away.
Ratcliffe's plans were already hampered when Omar Berrada's arrival from rivals Man City was delayed as the chief executive was placed on gardening leave. Only technical director Jason Wilcox has been able to arrive and begin his work quickly.
Dan Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United (PA)The dysfunction at the top coupled with the significant investment needed on the pitch, along with a need to work within profit and sustainability rules (PSR), led Ratcliffe to admit that one window will not be enough to complete the overhaul needed for United's big return.
"I'm not confident we'll solve all of the problems in the first transfer window, no," explained Ratcliffe in an interview with Bloomberg. "It will take time. Omar, Dan, Jason are key pillars of the sports side, we've only got Jason in place. We're sort of a bit handicapped in that sense, so I think we’ll do a fairly good job. It will take two or three summer windows to get to a better place."
United have to make any signings yet in the window thus far, with their pursuit of Jarrad Branthwaite consistently being thwarted by Everton's high asking price, while a Uefa ban has prevented them from signing Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice due to Ratcliffe's shared ownership of the French club.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
