Ratcliffe faces first Man Utd challenge as transfer plans thrown into disarray

Robin Bairner

• 1 Aug 2024 08:45 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United’s transfer window just got more complicated. A lot more complicated.

There may have been joy for the Red Devils in their 3-2 friendly win over Real Betis, which was a performance marked by swashbuckling performances from Amad Diallo and Harry Amass, but the promise from that display has been offset by potentially long-term issues that now face Erik ten Hag and the backroom team at Old Trafford.

Leny Yoro faces a lengthy period out with a foot injury – the type of problem PSG insist is the reason they did not match Man Utd’s €62 million bid for the former Lille centre-back – while news has also broken that Rasmus Hojlund faces a six-week absence.

EXCLUSIVE: PSG did not push for new Man Utd signing Yoro after injury concerns

Current ETV

Leny Yoro

D (C)

Man Utd

Leny Yoro

D (C)

Man Utd

€28.5M

ETV Range

€21.4M - €35.6M

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On top of this, both Marcus Rashford and Antony sustained problems against the Spanish club. The severity of these issues is not yet known, but United are in a position where they can ill-afford Rashford's absence, while the Brazilian’s issue may pose another hurdle to moving him on this summer.

But the transfer plans of Man Utd need reassessed before Deadline Day - and their rivals know it.

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Ratcliffe needs finesse

Bayern Munich’s position in their negotiations with Matthijs de Ligt has just been strengthened. The Bavarians now know how keen the Old Trafford side are for cover. Their asking price of €50 million upfront for the Netherlands star, who has an Estimated Transfer Value of €52.8m, should now be set in concrete.

Any club approached by Man Utd over a centre-forward can afford to be similarly stubborn over their price.

The only senior centre-forward left on the books is new signing Joshua Zirkzee, and even he was most effective last season for Bologna in a slightly withdrawn role. It could take Hojlund’s return before fans see the best of the Dutchman.

Current ETV

Matthijs de Ligt

D (C)

Bayern

Matthijs de Ligt

D (C)

Bayern

€52.8M

ETV Range

€39.6M - €65.9M

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United’s need for additional cover is clear, yet this also poses the greatest threat to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s insistence that the club will not overpay for players.

The challenge is now finding Man Utd-standard talent at a fair price. At the best of times, this is difficult, but with time running out in a transfer window and a very public shortage of players, it will take skilled operators to navigate this potential minefield.

And how does this affect a potential move for PSG's Manuel Ugarte? Will Man Utd need to move resources away from that deal to ensure other roles are plugged?

Now it’s time for Ratcliffe and his newly assembled crack squad to prove they have this talent and that a new era at Old Trafford has truly begun.