Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s pre-election comparison to new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has perhaps struck the wrong chord with many in the Labour-seated constituency of Stretford.
“I think you probably have to do some unpopular things to get those types of [governmental] issues dealt with. It's like at Manchester United, I'm having to do some things which are unpopular,” he told Bloomberg in June.
Around 250 club employees face redundancy in the coming weeks as Ratcliffe wields his cost-cutting axe. Last week’s decision has been heavily criticised given the astronomical wages of first-team players, many of whom have failed to hit club targets.
READ MORE: Why Manchester United are making 250 people redundant
READ MORE: Sense of dread as Manchester United to make 250 staff redundant
Estimates reckon that the job cuts will save around £10m a year - or as one analyst put it, eight months of Mason Mount’s wages. That extra £10m could soon be off the balance sheets at United should Joshua Zirkzee’s transfer from Bologna go through.
It’s generally accepted that the nature of the industry means playing staff are the most valuable assets at a club and so direct transfer fees for their services are part of the modern climate. What will churn the stomach is the fees agents receive for their client’s moves.
MEN Sport understands that, despite the player holding a £33m release clause, United could end up paying out £46m for Zirkzee due to agents’ fees. Reports in Italy echo that United might end up forking out up to £13m in commission sums.
Kia Joorabchian is thought to be the agent behind the drive for Zirkzee’s move to Old Trafford, a figure who Sir Alex Ferguson blamed for not enabling Carlos Tevez’s two-year loan spell to become a permanent transfer back in 2009.
Since his arrival, Ratcliffe has several times been spotted sitting next to Ferguson in the stands watching United but he might soon be handing one of his 'adversaries' a big pay day. For those set to lose their “non-essential” jobs at Old Trafford, this would - at the least - cut across as questionable given the reasons provided for the workforce cull.
Agents' fees are inevitable, but few would brand dishing out such inflated sums to them as an essential part of transfer business. Furthermore, it seems slightly at odds with Ratcliffe's business stance so far. He is reluctant to reach a compromise for Jarrad Branthwaite amid Everton’s £70m price tag, having seen an initial £43m offer rebuffed.
If figures are accurate, fans would have the right to question why the £13m put towards Zirkzee’s commission fees was not used to elevate their bid for Branthwaite, or at least on another transfer target given it is thought the club only have a permitted net spend of £50m this summer.
United are advancing in a deal for Zirkzee, who could arrive before the end of the month. It’s feasible that terms could be agreed sooner. While United staff remain, for now, in the dark over their employment future, Ratcliffe’s stance on Joorabchian’s apparent demands may soon become clear.
United have unveiled their new adidas home kit with new front-of-shirt sponsors for the 2024/25 season - and you can get your hands on it right now.
Adult sizes from £80
Fanatics
