The absence of UCL football may not hurt Manchester United’s finances due to the brilliance of Ed Woodward on the business front but it is starting to cost them in the transfer market.
Many fans and experts cited earlier that the failure to qualify for UCL would not hurt United much in going after their targets as they signed Jose Mourinho as the manager for the club, but the failure to qualify for Europe’s top competition is beginning to show it’s effect.
Mats Hummels in an interview with Suddeutsche Zeitung revealed that he had considered an offer from a top English club and that the club was unable to provide the “complete package”.
“The overall package means, a club which fascinates me; a club I have always wanted to join, and where the sporting constellation is right, and which of course plays Champions League football next season,” Hummels said. “And because of the latter, one club was ruled out, and you can envision which club that was.” (ESPN)
It is quite evident from the above statement that Mats Hummels was indirectly referring to Manchester United and their failure to provide the lure of UCL football. Back in November, Hummels was widely reported to be handing in a transfer request amidst interest from Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
There were multiple reports suggesting that Mats Hummels was destined for United but ended up agreeing to sign for Bayern Munich in a deal worth 37 million euros.
This statement by Hummels may just prove to be an eye-opener for Ed Woodward. Manchester United should start looking for players that actually want to join the club, instead of wasting their time over unrealistic targets, as this is not the first case where United have been heavily linked with a player only to see him eventually signing a new contract with his club or moving to some other top club.
The fans have apparently started to grow impatient with Ed Woodward’ transfer policies for the Old Trafford outfit’s repeated failure to sign targets.
The lack of UCL football might just prove to be a potent chink in an otherwise perfect armour made of financial steel for Manchester United.
