Kieran Maguire: Ratcliffe can provide ‘£90m’ Man United transfer boost once takeover is complete
Sir Jim Ratcliffe can issue new shares at Man United and boost the club’s transfer budget once his takeover deal is complete.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about United’s January plans once Ratcliffe takes sporting control at Old Trafford.
The British billionaire is expected to complete his investment deal imminently which will hand him decision-making control at United.
As revealed by Football Insider, United have paused all transfer plans until Ratcliffe’s takeover deal is finalised.
Ratcliffe is expected to bring in his own recruitment team at Old Trafford and take control of their transfer strategy.
However, the Red Devils currently find themselves close to breaching Financial Fair Play rules after their heavy spending in recent years.
But Maguire explained that a new share issue made by Ratcliffe could provide a £90million boost to the club’s budget.
Profit and financial sustainability rules allow clubs to lose a maximum of £105million over a three-year period, but £90million of that can be offset by owner investment.
“If Jim Ratcliffe had secured investment in Man United, one of the things that was available to him was a fresh issue of shares,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Under the current Premier League Financial Fair Play rules the first £90million of that can be added to FFP calculations.
“This would significantly enhance United’s ability to be competitive in the January market.
“United will have budgeted for a round of 16 appearance in the Champions League when they do their sums at the beginning of the season and they have failed spectacularly when it comes to achieving that target.
“So as it stands I think they’ll have to look at getting players out the door before bringing players in or turning their attention towards the loan market.“
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