Manchester United are in a bizarre situation right now.
Indeed, despite sitting 16th in the Premier League, Manchester United are on the verge of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Manchester United face Tottenham in the Europa League final next week, and the winner of that game will earn a seat at the top-table of European football.
United are fancied to beat Spurs, and, with a win, not only comes silverware and qualification but vast riches in terms of prize money and broadcast revenue.
Inevitably, this situation will affect United’s summer transfer budget, and according to Ian Ladyman, speaking on It’s All Kicking Off, United have a set budget in mind for both scenarios this summer.
How much Manchester United will spend if they win the Europa League
According to Ian Ladyman, Manchester United stand to spend £200m this summer if they win the Europa League.
However, if the Red Devils fail to win this competition, they will only spend £100m.
Matheus Cunha has been linked to United, while Liam Delap is a United target too, and both of those players could arrive even if United don’t win the Europa League.
“To answer your question. Somebody told me that there’s a ballpark figure of about £100m to spend for Manchester United, without getting into the Champions League. Which is why we’ve seen them dip their toe in the water for Cunha at Wolves and Delap at Ipswich,” Ladyman said.
“I think they feel they can do those deals without European football, that’s what I was told. If they do get the Champions League, you can chuck another £100m into that too, and therefore two players becomes four or five players and that’s half a team.”
Manchester United spending in recent transfer windows
Manchester United will be spending a minimum of £100m this summer by the sounds of things, and, as bizarre as this sounds, that makes this potentially a quiet window for United.
Indeed, the Red Devils have consistently spent way over £100m in almost every transfer window in recent years, as their record of spending shows.
| Year | Manchester United spending | Notable signings |
| Summer 2024 | £190m | Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro |
| Summer 2023 | £180m | Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Andre Onana |
| Summer 2022 | £210m | Antony, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez |
| Summer 2021 | £120m | Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane |
| Summer 2020 | £50m | Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles |
| Summer 2019 | £145m | Harry Maguire, Dan James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka |
Of course, that spending capacity could be doubled if United win the Europa League, but having already lost to Tottenham three times this season, it’s hard to fancy United’s chances.
Ruben Amorim has plenty of work to do in this summer transfer window, but whether or not he’ll be able to completely restructure this squad depends on how this Europa League final pans out.
