Conte ruled out? Man Utd must make money no object in new boss hunt

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 29 Oct 2021 03:42 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United’s pursuit of Antonio Conte to become their next manager has apparently stalled over concerns regarding the Italian’s salary.

The Red Devils have been forced to begin a hunt for new boss due to the club’s poor recent form. Three defeats and a draw in their last four Premier League matches make for a lamentable record, leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the brink.

If Solskjaer still has his backers at Man Utd, though, his record does not stand up to the reputation of the club. He has been richly backed in the transfer market, with Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo all notably arriving in the summer, yet he has failed to deliver a title and with just a quarter of the season gone Man Utd are already out of the Premier League title race.

When Man Utd do make the next step, money should not be a defining factor.

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Conte too pricey?

The Red Devils, though, look set to ignore such advice. According to the Daily Star</i>, Conte has been ruled out for precisely that reason.

Of course, Man Utd have a duty to get value for money and cannot afford themselves to be ripped off by the incoming staff, but equally they have a duty to their fans to ensure that an embarrassing trophy drought is ended.

Fans need not be reminded that the only trophies that the club has won since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 amount to an FA Cup in 2016 and a League Cup in 2017. By modern standards, such prizes are barely major honours.

And in appointing Solskjaer, who was given his post more on his performance as a player than anything he achieved in managerial spells with Cardiff and Molde, Man Utd tried taking the cheap option.

Nevertheless, Solskjaer remains the fifth highest-paid manager in the Premier League, earning around £7.5 million a year, according to reports.

To attract a manager of renown, Man Utd may need to more than double that allocation.

Indeed, Conte reportedly wants £18m per year to take the post. It is a princely fee, but comparable to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and less than Pep Guardiola at Manchester City - the two sides United are desperately trying to catch.

Conte may not be the right man for the job, with his defensive style jarring against the club’s attacking philosophy, but if Man Utd truly want to return to the Premier League’s elite, finances should not be the reason for turning such a proven coach down.