Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Manchester United has faced criticism in recent years for its dealings in the transfer market, but that was all meant to change this summer with Ineos in charge of sporting operations.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company was also in charge last summer, but its minority takeover had only taken place a few months prior, and that was never likely to give Ratcliffe enough time to make meaningful changes behind the scenes.

United was heralded for the appointments of Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada last year — all top operators whose CVs suggested that the Old Trafford club would soon be on the right track after 11 disappointing seasons.

Ashworth was canned in December, while the decision was recently taken for Dave Brailsford to step back from his role, having taken charge of soccer operations last February.

Read More

Clearly, all is not well at United, after the club endured its worst season in over 50 years, and the instability behind the scenes is not helping.

United's defeat by Tottenham in the Europa League final at the end of May ensured the club would not qualify to play in Europe next term, but perhaps the worst thing to come out of the defeat was how it affected United's finances.

United would have pocketed tens of millions of dollars through playing in the Champions League in 2025-26, boosting its transfer coffers ahead of a key summer window for Ruben Amorim.

As it is, the budget was not boosted at all, and the Red Devils are clearly feeling the effects as they dig their heels in during negotiations with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo.

Now, with Tottenham interested in Yoane Wissa, United's deal for Mbeumo could be in jeopardy as the Bees would not want to lose both players in the same summer, particularly after seeing Thomas Frank move to Spurs and with Christian Norgaard on the brink of joining Arsenal.

United has signed just one player all summer, in Matheus Cunha, while the club has failed to shift any of the players that are clearly not in Amorim's plans for the new season.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Tyrell Malacia remain on United's payroll, and there has been little to suggest that any of them are close to leaving.

Liverpool, on the other hand, has made six signings this summer, bringing in Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman, and formalizing Giorgi Mamardashvili's move.

There have been outgoings too, with the Reds collecting close to $75 million for Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher and Nat Phillips.

United's struggles only serve to underline just how good a job Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is currently doing at Anfield, getting the squad in shape for the new season — not that Reds fans are in need of a reminder.


For more news relating to Manchester United, visit our sister site MUFC Live.