How can Man Utd afford Mbeumo deal?

 

Manchester United may have no European football to look forward to next season but it has not prevented them from delving into the transfer market.

A £62.5m deal was agreed to sign Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves on the opening day of the latest transfer window, which is split into two phases this summer.

United are also in pursuit of Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo after submitting an improved bid of more than £60m for the Cameroon international, having had an initial offer of £45m and £10m in add-ons rejected.

However, this activity is set against the backdrop of part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe delivering a dire assessment of the club's finances in March and the subsequent ramifications of their Europa League final defeat by Tottenham.

That denied the 20-time English champions a Champions League spot and a guaranteed £70m just for participating in Europe's elite club competition.

Since then captain Bruno Fernandes has also rejected the overtures of Saudi Pro-League club Al-Hilal, which may have generated a transfer fee of between £80m-£100m.

And given United ended up 15th in the Premier League last term, and boss Ruben Amorim is wedded to a 3-4-3 formation that is not suited to those at his disposal, the club's need for new blood seems greater than ever before.

But just how can they afford it without breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) which limit clubs to losses of £105m over three years?

BBC Sport talks to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, who estimates that the club will still be well within their means even if they have an outlay of £150m on new signings.