Man Utd’s financial woes are out of their hands.. so is now really the time to take a £200m gamble in transfer market? – The Sun

UNTIL recently, Manchester United's problems were mostly self-inflicted.

But the worrying financial results the club had just released show how factors beyond their control, especially the Covid-19 pandemic, could now hamper their efforts to try to make up for the mistakes of the past.

United fans who hate the owners will be furious about the huge leap in net debt that is the long-term legacy of the way the Glazer family took control in the first place.

And it is, of course, partly the fault of the Glazers and their lieutenant Ed Woodward that the club missed out on the Champions League again and so was already guaranteed to make less money in 2019/20.

But it’s the coronavirus crisis, mainly by causing the £15m rebate to Premier League broadcasters and changes in the dollar/pound exchange rate, that is now in the driving seat.

As United themselves admit, what makes the situation all the more difficult is no-one knows how and when this all ends, and what football and the world looks like afterwards.

There are some things of which United can be certain.

For instance, if they fail to qualify for the next edition of Champions League, Adidas will cut by 30 per cent their annual £75m kit sponsorship payment.

But will Project Restart be a success and give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team the chance to earn a place on merit? If not, will the final standings be resolved in a way that works in United’s favour?

Will Manchester City succeed in their appeal against their Champions League ban? If not, fifth place should be enough for United, but it’s unclear when the result of City’s case, due to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport from June 8 to 10, will be known.

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