Manchester United's £75 Million: When Mbeumo Becomes the Benchmark

Manchester United invested £75 million in Bryan Mbeumo, a move considered effective, though the club's financial decisions have not always been wise.

Despite having only recently arrived Manchester United, Mbeumo has made a significant impact. After 22 Premier League matches, he has contributed 9 goals and 3 assists. The Cameroonian star is regarded as the most successful signing for both Manchester United and the Premier League in the 2025/26 season. The £75 million transfer fee paid by United for Mbeumo appears to be a tremendous bargain.

However, Manchester United has not always been a prudent spender. Evidence of this is their past waste of a similar sum merely to pay off managers they had dismissed. According to filings with the New York Stock Exchange, the Old Trafford club may have to pay a compensation fee of up to £16 million to manager Ruben Amorim.

This is the second-largest contract compensation payout in Manchester United's history, surpassing Erik ten Hag (£15 million) and only behind Jose Mourinho (£22.5 million). In total, since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, Manchester United has dismissed six managers at a combined cost of £75 million.

This represents a massive financial drain, significantly impacting Manchester United's financial foundation. With £75 million, the club could have acquired many top-tier stars; instead, they wasted that sum rectifying their own recruitment mistakes.

The selection of a head coach for Manchester United has been a contentious topic in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. The club has frequently made flawed managerial appointments, with each new manager possessing a style completely opposite to the predecessor, forcing the rebuilding process to restart from zero repeatedly.

This is partly why Manchester United has struggled to reclaim its top status. Following the mistake with Ruben Amorim, INEOS has shown considerable caution regarding the appointment of the Red Devils' next head coach. They have agreed to a short-term deal with Michael Carrick to allow more time to find the right candidate.

Currently, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi, Roberto Martinez, Xavi, and Luis Enrique are among the top targets for the hot seat at Manchester United. Should Carrick maintain his impressive run of form with United until the season's end, he could very well be offered a long-term contract.

Manchester United certainly does not wish to waste more money on sacking managers as in the past. £75 million is a substantial figure, and the club must prevent that number from growing any further.