How Man Utd can afford blockbuster transfer for a new striker WITHOUT needing to sell members of their 'bomb squad' - explained

A proposed deal for £70m ($93m)-rated RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has been thought to be moving forward, although Newcastle have not given up amid claims in his native Slovenia that he will choose the Magpies. After bringing in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for big money earlier in the summer, it was expected that further United signings would hinge on offloading Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia to create room under Premier League PSR. But that may not actually be the case, which is helpful given a lack of progress.

According to the Manchester Evening News, there are a few things that play into the club's hands. Rashford is the only member of the so-called 'bomb squad' to leave, only on loan. But Barcelona are covering all of his burdensome salary, immediately taking £14m ($19m) off the books for this season. With Rashford and Antony similarly out on loan in the second half of last season, money was also saved then. United had a quiet January when Patrick Dorgu's £25m ($33m) arrival was the only incoming transfer and the hugely expensive 2022 signings of Casemiro and Antony were long enough ago that they aren't part of the new three-year PSR cycle. Payments for Cunha and Mbeumo are going to be spread over multiple years, and even the brutal mass redundancies among non-football staff are said to have helped raise the PSR ceiling because of the saving.

The MEN report adds that United still intend to sell the remaining four 'bomb squad' players and expect movement closer to the transfer deadline on September 1. Chelsea remain linked with Garnacho, while Borussia Dortmund have emerged as a Sancho suitor after Juventus' interest was paused. Overall, the club still feel they must sell some senior players for the sake of the finances by next summer.

If United can push ahead with a Sesko approach and beat Newcastle to the punch, Ruben Amoorim could have a very different forward line this season, with Cunha and Mbeumo predicted to operate as split No.10s behind a central striker. Club officials have just shy of two weeks to complete a deal if they want Sesko to be involved from day one of the Premier League campaign.