Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has revealed his transfer plans following his £1.3 billion minority takeover of the club.
Ratcliffe disclosed that United will not expend money to sign superstar players such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham but instead find the next best thing on the market.
The INEOS boss and his team will take over football operations at United and want to overhaul the recruitment department first.
The incoming directors and recruitment team will take United in a new transfer direction – one that doesn’t involve signing mega superstars for large sums.
Speaking to Geraint Thomas on his podcast, Ratcliffe was asked whether United should try to sign Jude Bellingham, who was close to joining the Reds in 2020 before his move to Borussia Dortmund.
“He’s a great footballer, but that’s not where our focus is,” the 71-year-old responded.
“The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players. They have done that if you look at the last ten years, they have spent a lot of money.
“The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes who are managing and organising the club and make sure we get recruitment right. That’s such a vital part of running a football club, getting that right.
“I would rather find the next Mbappe,” Ratcliffe continued later in the podcast upon the mention of the France superstar’s name as a free agent and potential transfer target.
“Rather than spend a fortune to buy success. It’s not that clever to go and sign Mbappe. Anyone could figure that one out. What’s more challenging is to find the next Mbappe, the next Bellingham, the next Roy Keane.”
United have appointed Omar Berrada as the new Chief Executive Officer. However, they are struggling to assemble the dream transfer team, with Newcastle United refusing to easily part ways with sporting director Dan Ashworth.
The Red Devils are also trying to bring in Jason Wilcox as head of recruitment, but he remains at Southampton.
United must move swiftly to assemble this highly-touted transfer band ahead of a pivotal summer with plenty of big decisions looming.
