How Manchester United plan to compete with richer rivals

Manchester United spent £148 million on new players this summer, a figure dwarfed by the sums invested by several rivals. Newly promoted Ipswich spent more, Chelsea and Tottenham each invested more than £300 million, and Manchester City set a record with £458 million.

Liverpool’s lineup in its victory at Ipswich also underlined the scale of the spending gap. Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz each cost more than £100 million. United’s most expensive summer signing, Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton, could cost £70 million, still below the £89 million the club paid for Paul Pogba a decade ago.

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I certainly feel we can.

Michael Carrick rejects the idea that money alone builds a successful team. “I certainly feel we can,” he said when asked whether United could compete for major honours. He said the challenge was finding “the right dynamics, the right balance and the right group together” and using the best players to improve the rest of the squad.

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The challenge is getting the right dynamics, the right balance and the right group together; getting the best players in the group to enhance the rest. Whether you need experience, or some younger players.

United’s transfer strategy has drawn criticism. Observers have highlighted the lack of a left-back to compete with Luke Shaw and the absence of additional striking support for Benjamin Sesko. Carrick also rejected the suggestion that the hierarchy had imposed limits on summer spending, saying that money “doesn't always have to be the answer.”

The club’s finances remain central to the debate. Swiss Ramble estimated that United had paid £852 million in interest since the Glazer family takeover in 2005. The latest quarterly figures showed total borrowings of £1.29 billion, including outstanding transfer fees. United added £91.92 million when it refinanced bonds in June and has not yet explained how it would fund a proposed new stadium expected to cost more than £2 billion.

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The actual amount of money I understand can be a big thing but it doesn't always have to be the answer.

Fans continue to protest against the Glazers at almost every match. Chief executive Omar Berrada nevertheless told the club’s Fans Forum that United could manage its debt and stadium ambitions while remaining competitive. “We have shown that with debt, we can not only [be] profitable, but more importantly, win trophies,” he said. “And our aim is to do that again.”

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We have shown that with debt, we can not only [be] profitable, but more importantly, win trophies. And our aim is to do that again.