Funding Benjamin Šeško: Inside Manchester United’s Summer Balancing Act
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
How Manchester United Can Fund Šeško Transfer From Leipzig
As Manchester United continue to reshape the squad during a critical summer under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS-led leadership, the looming question among fans isn’t whether they’ll buy Benjamin Šeško, but how they can afford to.
The Slovenian striker has been earmarked as the final piece of a £200 million attacking overhaul, but with headlines swirling about budget cuts, staff layoffs, and operational tightening, the optics around such a major purchase have raised eyebrows. Still, beneath the surface, United’s financial chessboard reveals a far more calculated, sustainable strategy than many realise.
First, let’s deal with the perception. When a club known for lavish spending begins to cut perks like free staff lunches while also sanctioning record-breaking transfer moves, the contradiction writes itself.
But this isn’t financial chaos, this is INEOS’ deliberate streamlining. Internally, United were operating with nearly double the number of staff compared to clubs achieving the same footballing outputs.
The shake-up, while uncomfortable, reflects a shift toward a leaner, more efficient model. The club’s executive leadership is clearly focused on channelling spending where it matters most: the pitch. That means hard choices behind the scenes, while making room for elite talent up front.
So, how does a club that posted a £131 million loss last season make room for Šeško, whose price tag could rise to nearly £74 million? The answer lies in financial structure, not bank-breaking lump sums.
United’s transfer approach this summer has leaned heavily on staggered payments, an increasingly common model among top clubs looking to stay within financial regulations.
Reportedly, the deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were cleverly engineered with long-term payment plans, minimising immediate outflow. Expect a similar structure for Šeško, with the guaranteed fee of around £65 million potentially spread over the length of his contract.
That payment flexibility pairs neatly with incoming cash from several overlooked sources. United have already freed up significant wage space through Marcus Rashford’s loan to La Liga giants Barcelona, with his full £300,000-a-week salary now off the books.
Jadon Sancho’s collapsed move to Chelsea still netted the club a £5 million compensation fee. Add to that over £15 million banked from sell-on clauses linked to academy graduates like Anthony Elanga and Álvaro Carreras, and you start to see how the numbers begin to balance out.
And the clear-out isn't finished. Several fringe players, including Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood, were sold last summer. Others, like Alejandro Garnacho, remain potential assets that could be moved on to raise further funds. United’s so-called “bomb squad” still holds considerable value in the market, even if it doesn’t always show on the team sheet.
Meanwhile, their off-pitch revenue machine continues to hum. Last season's Europa League run helped keep matchday income healthy, and despite their lowest-ever Premier League finish, United’s commercial clout remains among the strongest in Europe.
Even in a campaign many labelled disastrous, the club earned £136.2 million in Premier League prize and broadcast money, more than some title-winning sides from previous eras.
Their annual profit forecast has climbed, with projections reaching up to £190 million. That alone is enough to fund an elite-level transfer when paired with strategic outgoing sales.
Šeško represents more than a splashy signing as he’s a statement of intent. At 22, he fits the long-term vision of a squad being reshaped around youth, pace, and high ceiling potential. With Rasmus Højlund potentially exiting and the current forward line still lacking a consistent goal outlet, Šeško arrives not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
Still, this isn’t a free pass to reckless spending. Amorim and Ratcliffe have made it clear that balance is essential. Every incoming will likely need to be offset by an outgoing. The post-Sir Alex years taught United what happens when a squad is built without cohesion or sustainability. Now, the club seems keen to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Ultimately, Manchester United’s path to landing Šeško doesn’t lie in breaking the bank, it lies in intelligent restructuring, prioritised investments, and finally acting like a club that knows what it’s doing in the market. For fans longing for a new striker and a sense of direction, both may finally be arriving at once.
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