Manchester United are changing

Thanks to strategic moves in finance and transfers, the "Red Devils" are showing a proactive, flexible and pragmatic side rarely seen in recent years.

Manchester United are different now.

In recent summers, Manchester United have often been criticized for unreasonable spending, lack of direction in transfers and having to sell first and buy later due to financial pressure. But in the summer of 2025, the "Red Devils" are showing a different face: more flexible, more pragmatic and proactive.

The focus of the campaign is Benjamin Sesko - a 22-year-old Slovenian striker who plays for RB Leipzig - the top target to upgrade the attack. And notably, Manchester United can completely "close the deal" without having to wait to sell any stars.

Financial Proactivity

Manchester United are in talks with RB Leipzig over a deal that could cost up to £79m - a huge sum. With the transfer market slowing down, the question is: how can United afford such a big deal?

The answer comes from a series of strategic moves that the Old Trafford team has quietly made over the past six months. First, Marcus Rashford was loaned to Barcelona with the clause that the Catalan club would pay his entire salary - helping the club save about £14 million. This was not just a simple salary fund disbursement deal, but also a clear statement: MU is ready to drastically change the structure of the squad.

Alongside that are less-noticed sources of income. This summer, Man United earned nearly £21m from resale clauses related to academy graduates Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Carreras and Maxi Oyedele, along with a £5m "compensation" from Chelsea when the team refused to exercise the clause to buy Jadon Sancho outright.

In contrast to previous impulsive transfer windows, MU are showing that they have learned their lesson from expensive but ineffective deals like Casemiro and Antony. Last winter, they spent only £25 million to buy Patrick Dorgu - a promising young player - and loaned Rashford and Antony with the majority of their wages covered by their partners.

Manchester United made a mistake in the Antony deal.

Even big-money deals like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo - two key summer signings - were paid in instalments. The total cost was £133.5m, but the actual short-term outlay was not too large, helping United maintain flexible cash flow.

Another important detail: the upcoming 3-year financial audit according to PSR regulations will no longer count the two super expensive contracts Casemiro and Antony - investments that are ineffective both professionally and financially. This opens up more "accounting space" for MU to make big deals without breaking the law.

Selling is still mandatory - but not now

Despite having enough "rations" to bring Sesko to Old Trafford, Man United still clearly knows that a squad cleanup is mandatory. The "bomb squad" - a group of players no longer in the long-term plan - including Sancho, Antony, Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia - will have to leave sooner or later. However, the "Red Devils" do not want to be forced to pay too much too early in the market.

That is why they chose to take the initiative, waiting until the September 1 deadline to speed up negotiations. At that time, the clubs need to add personnel more urgently, the player's value can be pushed higher. Currently, Chelsea is said to have put Garnacho in their sights, Juventus and Dortmund have had preliminary talks with Sancho's representatives, and Malacia has received attention from Saudi Arabia.

United know they will have to sell some first-team players in the next 12 months to maintain their long-term financial balance, but buying now and selling later is no longer an option.

Sesko is a target for Manchester United.

Technically, Benjamin Sesko is the ideal striker for a team that is undergoing a “silent overhaul” under a new management. He has a good physique, impressive speed, increasingly perfect technique and most importantly: a lot of potential for development. At 22 years old, Sesko is the right choice for a long-term commitment, while competing equally with Rasmus Højlund.

With their current financial capacity, MU can not only buy Sesko - they also create an active position at the negotiating table: no need to sell urgently, no need to be pushed into a corner. A positive signal after many years of being considered "a rich guy who spends money poorly".

Manchester United are changing – both in the way they play football and their financial strategy. Being able to sign a striker for nearly £80m without selling anyone else shows that the power behind the scenes is starting to return. If Sesko arrives at Old Trafford, it will not only be an addition to the attack, but also a message to the rest of the Premier League: United are back – quietly, but pragmatically and calculatingly.

Source: https://znews.vn/manchester-united-dang-thay-doi-post1573829.html