Man United set to learn imminent FFP fate amid points deduction risk and Marcus Rashford decision
Manchester United’s position with Premier League spending rules is hampering their transfer freedom yet again in the January window.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has made it no secret that the club find themselves in a tricky situation within the market. The reality is that United must sell if they wish to buy this month. The club have spent hundreds of millions over the past three-year financial cycle yet are no better off for it.
The club sit 13th in the Premier League after 20 games, having won just six of their league fixtures. Off the field, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a number of unpopular cost-cutting decisions as the club tries to somehow create space within Financial Fair Play remits.
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United to learn FFP fate
United will learn on Tuesday whether they have breached the Premier League’s PSR rules for the three-year cycle ending with the 203/24 season.
Clubs are required to hand in their finance reports by December 31 for each respective cycle and the Premier League has 14 days to issue breach complaints.
United have no starting budget this January after spending more than £200m on five new summer signings while recording a net loss of £113m for the year ending June, despite receiving record revenue.
At the time of the release of those figures, United chiefs were confident they would not breach spending limits. Since then, former sporting director Dan Ashworth and manager Erik ten Hag have been sacked and will be due compensation.
United, meanwhile, dished out around £8m to prise Amorim out of his Sporting CP contract. Such pay-outs contribute towards spending limits - albeit all of the aforementioned does not come within the three-year cycle being evaluated this month.
MEN Sport says: United could avoid punishment this time, albeit there is always an element of risk. United’s Champions League campaign ended before Christmas last season, but the revenue gained from their six games plus the FA Cup triumph all play their part.
Should United somehow get a points deduction that would throw them into a relegation battle, a prospect no one ever would have envisaged.
Barcelona boss ‘gives thumbs up’ for Rashford
A report from Diario Sport claims Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has given his approval for his club to approach Marcus Rashford. Rashford said last month he was “ready for a new challenge” and has failed to play this calendar year.
Amorim has admitted that he does not know whether Rashford will play for United again, albeit he has not ruled out the possibility. Reports last week claimed Barcelona is one of the destinations Rashford would be open to moving to.
MEN Sport says: This all seems a bit unlikely, for January at least. Barcelona barely managed to register Dani Olmo for the second half of the season due to their terrible financial position.
Meanwhile, Rashford’s wages reportedly exceed £350,000 and United would need any receiving club to pay a significant portion should his exit only be a loan. Something seismic, or questionable, would have to happen in order for Rashford to move to the Catalan club this winter.