Man United follow Elon Musk after ‘£250m’ decision – Stefan Borson
Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made waves at Old Trafford since taking control of football operations 12 months ago.
The BBC reported earlier this month (12 February) that Ratcliffe is considering making between 100 and 200 more redundancies after 250 members of staff were let go last year.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness has told Football Insider (22 February) that “morale is below rock bottom” within United after speaking to staff at the club.
Fans are also unhappy with on-pitch performance with Ruben Amorim‘s side sitting 15th in the Premier League table with just 12 matches of the 2024-25 campaign left to play.
Man United want to cut wage bill to £250m, says Borson
The Guardian reported on 15 February that Man United’s department of about 80 scouts is facing considerable cuts in Ratcliffe’s next round of redundancies.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider that United are following in the footsteps of Elon Musk – who has spearheaded a cost-cutting mission at the heart of the United States government since Donald Trump’s inauguration.
He claimed the Red Devils’ ultimate goal is to reduce the overall wage bill to £250million per season – with United spending almost £365million on salaries last term.
Borson told Football Insider: “United are taking a completely different approach to staffing.
“They are the biggest club and therefore have had one of the largest staff around. They have the biggest stadium, the biggest operation, and the most successful marketing team.
“But now they are rebasing everything, following Elon Musk’s DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] operation.
“They’re going through every cost base of the club, and just saying: ‘What is the minimum we can get away with right now?’
“They want to get back to some level of profitability and they’re taking radical decisions.
| Season | Premier League finish |
| 2023-24 | 8th |
| 2022-23 | 3rd |
| 2021-22 | 6th |
| 2020-21 | 2nd |
| 2019-20 | 3rd |
“The big challenge United have got is that these savings are irrelevant in the context of the football team.
“70-80% of the wages is in the first-team. They can do whatever they like to people who work there on average salaries, it won’t make any difference.
“They are also sorting out the first team in terms of cutting costs. I think they want the wage bill down to £250million, getting rid of players like Rashford, Casemiro and Antony.
“They’re on big money. The question then will be – are Man United going to be successful with a cost base which is £150million off Man City and Liverpool?”
Man United target Delap could cost £40m
Football Insider has been told by former Red Devils chief scout Mick Brown (20 February) that Ipswich will demand a “huge” fee to sell Liam Delap this summer amid interest from the likes of Man United and Chelsea.
Brown claimed it could take £40million to land the 22-year-old – who is wanted by top Premier League sides.
Ipswich paid £20million to sign Delap from Man City last summer (2024), and he has scored ten goals in 24 Premier League games this term.
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