Manchester United has returned from Bilbao trying to show strength despite growing challenges. The club still supports manager Ruben Amorim, who has promised to step aside if fans or owners lose faith. Officials inside Old Trafford are not talking about replacing him. They believe Amorim is the right person to lead the team’s rebuild. But recent events have made that belief harder to hold. A 1-0 loss to Tottenham has officially ended United’s hopes for European football next season. That defeat, along with new job cuts and big financial losses, has pushed the club into a tough situation.
Missing out on the Champions League has hit Manchester United’s finances hard. Soon, the club will publish new financial data on the New York Stock Exchange. Those numbers are expected to show big losses. One deal alone will cost them: Adidas will cut its sponsorship by £10 million because of the failure to qualify for Europe. That figure will be spread over the rest of the contract, which lasts ten more years. But the warning is clear—further failures could mean more cuts.
Premier League prize money is also at risk. If United finishes in 16th place instead of fifth, they could lose £33 million. Missing out on four Champions League home games removes another £17.2 million in ticket revenue. Overall, the club may lose about £100 million this season. In response, cost-saving steps are already happening. Some staff perks are gone, and travel expenses are being reduced. A second round of layoffs will affect departments like medical, science, and scouting. But these savings are not enough. United’s main issue remains the size of their wage bill and past spending mistakes in the transfer market.
Even with these troubles, the club says there will be money to spend this summer. But they must sell players first. United still owes £272 million in transfer fees, with £156 million due soon. Their last report showed a loss of £113 million. They also spent £14.5 million on parting ways with Erik ten Hag and his team. Still, they plan to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million. To make that happen, they must sell quickly and wisely. Any delay could raise costs or lead to rushed signings. This happened in 2022 when Ten Hag’s failed attempt to sign Frenkie de Jong led to emergency moves for Casemiro and Antony—both costly and low-return deals. Now, smarter and faster action is needed.
Inside the squad, very few players are safe from being sold. Bruno Fernandes may leave if a good offer arrives. Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen are set to leave this summer. Marcus Rashford is not expected to work with Amorim again but won’t lower his wage demands. Barcelona has shown interest, but they lack the money to close the deal soon. Chelsea could trigger a clause to bring Jadon Sancho back from loan. Alejandro Garnacho had a social media clash with Amorim, and Chelsea is watching the situation. Andre Onana has interest from Saudi clubs, though no bids have been made. Backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir wants more playing time and may leave. Casemiro, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw could also be sold, but their high salaries complicate things. The club wants a fresh start, but not all changes will be easy.
Amorim continues to receive public support from United. After the loss to Tottenham, he said his ideas are starting to work. Some signs of progress were seen in Bilbao. One example was Casemiro’s smart pass that opened space for Patrick Dorgu. But good moments are not enough. Amorim has won only six of his 26 league games. At other top clubs in Europe, that record could lead to a quick exit. Some players are unsure about his style, and some former players doubt if young coaches can win over experienced squads. For now, the board still believes in Amorim—but only wins will keep him safe. If results don’t improve next season, his time may run out fast.
Next, United will travel to Asia for two friendly matches after playing Aston Villa on Sunday. Senior players are not excited, but the tour could bring in £10 million. Amorim knows the club needs that money to handle losses. A match against AC Milan is possible, held at a neutral location. Without midweek games, the team can focus more on tactics. But with fewer matches, fans and media will pay more attention to everything else—especially problems off the pitch. United is always in the spotlight. That won’t change. The only way forward is to start earning that spotlight again.