Dr Dan Plumley

Tue 23 August 2022 9:11, UK

Man United fans will be outraged if the Glazers sell off their future TV revenue in order to fund the expansion of Old Trafford.

That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the “controversial” cash plan.

The Times reported last Friday (19 August) that the Glazers are set to be offered a lump sum in exchange for a portion of future media revenues.

It is claimed that the cash could be used to finance a long-mooted revamp of Old Trafford, meaning the American owners would not have to dip into their own pockets.

The financing model is akin to the one recently pursued by financially embattled Barcelona.

Plumley insists that supporters of the Red Devils will wonder why the owners would strangle future revenues to avoid externally funding the stadium project.

“This is almost like the Barcelona economic levers model,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.

“In terms of the pros, this gives you money upfront. You are giving away money in the future. The risk is how many years of TV money you are looking to exchange.

“The Premier League TV deal is set until 2025, but after that, there will be a renegotiation. And that is the risk because the value of the TV rights can go up or down.

“Barca’s strategy is really a risk because they have sold them for 50 years and you don’t know what is going to happen in that time. So, that is the gamble.

“It’s controversial but if it’s a short-term play, you might get away with doing it this way.

“But fans will see that the Glazers aren’t short of money and have already taken a lot out of the club. Why then sell future TV rights to do this when they could put it against capital infrastructure costs, which are exempt from FFP anyway?

“This is the sticking point. It happens in business but we haven’t seen it in football until Barca did it a few years ago.”

In other news, pundit can’t believe Chelsea could now sign Harry Maguire after “shock” Man United news.