Man United cut nearly 1 million pounds/week to rebuild the midfield
The wage bill is expected to be freed up from Sancho and Rashford, along with major contracts expiring, allowing Man United to pursue Baleba, Wharton, Stiller. The plan is to wait until the summer, under Ruben Amorim and Jason Wilcox.
Manchester United are preparing a midfield rebuild with a focus on cutting around £1m a week from their wage bill to reinvest in young, energetic midfielders with long-term value for manager Ruben Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox.
Wage math: cut targets and how Man United plan to do it
Funding for the plan comes from exiting the big contracts of older, high-earning players like Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho, while United are confident they can free up Marcus Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages through a permanent sale to Barcelona or another club.
Even if Casemiro and Maguire agree to stay on a lower salary and increased performance bonuses, parting ways with Sancho and Rashford will still save United more than £50 million a year, leaving room to pay the wages of the two new midfielders, while the transfer fees come from the club's revenue.
Target profiles: Baleba, Wharton, Stiller
Man United have identified three names in midfield:
- Carlos Baleba(Brighton, 21 years old, Cameroon international): Brighton once offered a price of up to 115 million pounds.
- Adam Wharton(Crystal Palace, 21 years old): English option in development age, on watch list.
- Angelo Stiller(VfB Stuttgart, 24 years old): the choice to increase depth and competitiveness.
United have confirmed they will not be adding to their midfield in January, but will wait until the summer to pursue priority targets.
Why summer: policy change and a shift in focus
The plan reflects a marked shift in transfer policy. Last summer, United spent £225m on attacking talent, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. Despite recognising the need for midfield reinforcements, they rejected Chelsea's bid for Romeo Lavia due to injury concerns.
Financial framework: declining revenue and “softer” salary fund
Missing out on European football this season has cost United at least £40m. Under the management of Ineos, cost-cutting measures and a 25% wage deferral clause imposed by the Glazers for not playing in the Champions League have reduced the club’s wage bill to its lowest level since 2017-18, giving United the chance to reallocate to youth targets this summer.
HR Impact: Contract Scenarios
- Jadon Sancho: The £300,000/week contract will expire at the end of the season, ending an unsatisfactory time at Old Trafford.
- Marcus Rashford(28 years old): Currently playing on loan at Barcelona and can be sold for £30 million; releasing a salary of £325,000/week.
- Casemiro(34 years old in February) andHarry Maguire(32 years old): May be offered a renewal with a deep salary reduction, plus performance-based bonuses.
Recruitment orientation: from “old stars” to sustainable models
The era of recruiting older, high-paid stars like Casemiro, Varane or Ronaldo is over. Man United is aiming for a smart recruitment strategy, focusing on cost efficiency and long-term value, in line with the plan to rebuild the midfield from a foundation of young players.
Summer roadmap: clear goals, decisive decisions
Not rushing into January, United are prioritizing resources and making decisions in the summer. Three target profiles have been identified, while salary and contract scenarios are opening up the necessary space to complete a young and energetic midfield for the next phase.
