Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick comes into the club just weeks before the transfer window re-opens.
A number of German or German based players have already been linked, with The Times reporting Amadou Haidara is a midfield target, and 90Min touting Nordi Mukiele as an option at right-back.
The Mirror go a step further, claiming Rangnick has been handed a £100 million budget to improve United in January.
Erling Haaland, Christopher Nkunku, and even Timo Werner are among the names linked.
These reports about United’s £100m warchest have been repeated by multiple outlets – with little scrutiny, which we are here to provide.
While likely Rangnick makes or or two transfers, do not expect anywhere near £100 million to be spent. Here is a look at three reasons why…
Too much money for an interim
While Ralf Rangnick will work as a consultant beyond his interim spell, it is highly unlikely United will give him a £100 million budget considering his temporary role.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not get a single penny to spend in the transfer market when he was interim boss in early 2019.
United will keep the majority of the budget available for the next permanent manager in the summer, with Rangnick’s support.
Rangnick will use January to sell players and raise money, which will go into the transfer pot for the summer.
United’s squad is already arguably too big, aside from strengthening in one or two key areas, Rangnick will want to work with the players he has at his disposal, and work out who can be improved, and who is not up to the task.
Not Rangnick’s style
Rangnick has never been known for splashing big transfer fees and that is unlikely to substantially change.
In part, that can’t be avoided at United, but you only need to look at Rangnick’s track record to see the £100 million reports are a total red herring.
Rangnick has never spent as much as £20 million on a player, and while he is likely to break that fee at United, he would rather try to unearth a future star than buy an already established one.
A fee of £33 million to pay Haidara’s release clause seems around the limit, and while he could make an exception for Erling Haaland, that deal is highly unlikely to take place in January.
United rarely splash out in January
United as a club rarely use the January transfer window much either. Last year no players were brought in, apart from Amad, in a delayed deal from the previous summer.
Bruno Fernandes was United’s biggest January spent, which came in at under £50 million.
United spent a lot of money in the summer and the club know a permanent manager will expect to be backed in summer 2022.
Don’t expect as much as £100 million to be committed in January, even bearing in mind player sales.
The most United can reasonably expect is a maximum of two players to arrive, and most probably just one key addition.
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