Manchester United have been warned they could face difficulties in the transfer market despite the excitement surrounding Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese’s appointment as Erik ten Hag’s successor, following a hugely successful spell in charge of Sporting Lisbon, has raised hopes among the club’s global support base that the struggles it has experienced since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure are a thing of the past.
Although Amorim’s appointment has inevitably seen United linked with several high-profile stars ahead of the January window, Danny Higginbotham has told SportsBoom that the 39-year-old, together with sporting director Dan Ashworth, might be forced to target players with potential rather than those who are already the finished article.
Higginbotham, who turned professional with the 20-time English champions before representing the likes of Southampton, Stoke City, Sheffield United and the Gibraltar national team, said: “I don’t think, when you look at the current situation and landscape in football, that United will be able to go out and recruit from the very top of the tree if you like.”
“I believe they’ll have to look at players who are just below that level and try to develop them into the kind of stars they used to bring in,” he told Sportsboom.com.
“Recently, I think everyone would agree that United have overpaid for a lot of players to try and get them there in the first place. That won’t be able to happen now because of the financial rules and the fact they’re not in the Champions League.”
“But that’s not going to stop the selling clubs still wanting top dollar when United come calling.”
“They’ll believe – and you can understand why – that they’ll be able to squeeze extra money out of them.”
“You’ll find the asking price is different for United than some other clubs who might be in for the same player.”
BELOW TOP BAND
“You might see United going in for people who are just below that very top band,” Higginbotham continued, “And look to develop them, bring them on.
“That means it could take a little bit more time, but providing the identification process is spot on, it can work, providing everyone is on the same page.”
In a sign of the complications the lack of top-tier European competition could present Amorim with, reports have already suggested that his recruitment budget could be significantly lower than the one ten Hag was presented with.
Amorim’s predecessors Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were also able to splash the cash with Paul Pogba, Antony, Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Romelu Lukaku all being acquired for more than 84 million euros.
Higginbotham, who relocated to the States after retiring from the game, now provides expert analysis on the MLS and European football.
The 45-year-old, who made his Premier League debut for United in 1998, also represented Amorim’s employers in the Champions League and FIFA Club World Championship.
“To be honest, the way I believe United will be forced to go about things might be better for them in the long run,” said Higginbotham.
“They’ll have to adopt a more joined-up approach, be more strategic than they have in the not-so-distant past.”
“It might mean the fans have to be a little bit patient, but they’re a knowledgeable bunch, and they’ll understand what’s happening. Instead of just throwing money at the problem – which they won’t be able to do anyway because of the financial rules – they’ll have to be smarter with how they recruit.”
