Latest news with #Glazers
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fans Turn to Crowdfunding as Manchester United Eye Alexander Isak
Desperate Times at Old Trafford as Fans Launch Isak GoFundMe Drive Unusual Measures in a Modern Football Landscape There are signs of desperation and defiance from Manchester United's fanbase this summer. With the club entangled in financial turbulence and glaring gaps in attack, supporters have taken the remarkable step of launching a GoFundMe campaign titled 'Sign Isak for Manchester United' to raise £150million in a bid to lure Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. This extraordinary crowdfunding initiative, highlighted by Isak to Manchester United GoFundMe Page, came after reports that Isak is open to a move away, having missed Newcastle's pre-season fixtures at Celtic and on their Asian tour. 'United need a striker. We need hope. So, let's do what the Glazers won't… and raise £150 million to bring Alexander Isak to Old Trafford,' said Isaac MUFC, the fan behind the page. Isak's Future Up in the Air Newcastle reportedly value the striker at £150million, and interest in the 24-year-old is intensifying. Isak has also been linked with Liverpool and Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal. His style—blistering pace, fluid movement, and composure in front of goal—would undoubtedly enhance any top-six Premier League attack. Photo: IMAGO That alone makes the humour and heartbreak behind the GoFundMe effort so powerful. United, having spent over £100million already on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, still appear short in the final third. But instead of decisive boardroom action, it's the fans attempting to complete the hat-trick. Protest or Pipe Dream? While clearly tongue-in-cheek, there's a pointed message in the initiative. '50% of Proceeds will go to Unicef UK because if we can't bring Isak to Manchester, we can still bring some good to the world. The other 50% will go towards paying back some of my student debt because United aren't the only ones in a financial crisis,' reads the campaign. This isn't about genuinely bankrolling a blockbuster transfer, but rather exposing the powerlessness many supporters feel. After Sir Jim Ratcliffe openly discussed United's financial woes and amid a raft of staff layoffs, the GoFundMe doubles as satire and sorrow. Modern Football, Unreal Demands What this bizarre but creative campaign underscores is the financial chasm between fans and the elite decision-makers. United's supporters have often been vocal against ownership, and this attempt to 'do what the Glazers won't' is emblematic of a wider frustration. Isak may never pull on the red shirt of Manchester United, but his name will now be forever linked to a movement that managed to say more about the state of a football club than any official statement ever could. Our View – EPL Index There's no doubt this GoFundMe campaign is equal parts satire and despair, but it also paints a stark picture of the disconnect between fans and club leadership. That Manchester United, one of the richest clubs in the world, could find itself the subject of a transfer whip-round feels almost too bizarre to believe. Supporters clearly crave a player like Isak. He's modern, mobile and clinical. But no amount of crowdfunding will bridge the chasm created by years of financial missteps and poor recruitment. Even if every United fan in the world donated £10, they'd still fall far short of the quoted £150million. This is a joke with teeth. It's a protest against a model where clubs are sold dreams but delivered bureaucracy and cuts. Fans are tired, and this campaign makes a bigger statement than chants or banners ever could. But let's be clear: Isak is heading elsewhere unless United act like United again.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd consider charging fans £4,000 to reserve season tickets at new stadium – with 20,000 seats saved for hospitality
MANCHESTER UNITED'S new stadium could include 20,000 'prawn sandwich brigade' seats, with the club's owners planning a huge number of VIP and hospitality areas. United legend Roy Keane once famously took aim at the club's match-going home supporters before a Champions League group stage tie against Dynamo Kiev in 2000 - stating they were too busy eating prawn sandwiches rather than creating an atmosphere inside the Theatre of Dreams. 2 2 Owners the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe appear to have ignored the former midfielder's rant by considering plans to dramatically increase corporate capacity, to help cover the cost of the £2billion build. Club chiefs have big plans, including hospitality areas on both sides of the halfway line and even pitch side. United are also considering selling long-term season ticket contracts, which could involve paying around £4,000 to secure a season ticket for 15 years or more - the FA uses a similar idea to enable England fans to secure season tickets for a number of years at a time. Officials are also considering bringing in a 'premium season ticket model' that would involve fans paying an additional sum on top of standard season ticket prices, to receive benefits such as a better chance of securing away tickets and access to concert tickets. The plans were revealed after United recently invited supporters to take part in discussions about the proposed 100,000-seater super ground they are planning to build near their current home. Club chiefs are also considering an American-style matchday experience, including 360-degree screen bars, a large number of smaller merchandise outlets instead of a single megastore, plus food and drink stalls. They are also looking into plans to allow fans freedom to move around the concourse to meet family and pals before matches. United also told fans that 2031/32 remains the target for the stadium opening. The club is expected to launch a large survey next month to hear fans' views. A source said the club wanted to gauge reactions from fans on a range of early ideas and themes which included different price points for tickets and other products. Sir Jim Ratcliffe explains his plans for the new Man Utd Stadium One fan criticised the forum, details of which were leaked online, describing them as a 'sad reality of what's to coming'. In further Americanisation, the Red Devils are considering the introduction of a "personal seat licence". This would be a fee paid to the club that would give the fans the chance to buy their season tickets. In the US, this controversial model is usually used to gain funding for new build stadiums. The system is thought to give the buyer the first refusal on a seat for a number of years. But if they do not take up the option, then they would immediately lose the licence. More to follow... THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
🎧 Rise of American ownership in English football
It is not just at the top of the Premier League where American ownership has a foothold in English years on from the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, one third of the 72 EFL clubs now have either majority or minority US a special episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Kelly Cates is joined by a group of experts to investigate whether this trend is likely to on BBC Sounds
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd ready to win £60m Viktor Gyokeres transfer race as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's brutal cuts start to pay off
MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to win the race for Viktor Gyokeres. The Red Devils recently revealed total operating expenses have dropped by £41.6million to £162.1m in the latest quarterly club accounts after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's brutal cost cutting. 3 3 3 That is despite the cash spent on the Glazers' debt spiralling to a staggering £1.2BILLION. United's gradual U-turn in club finances means they are ready to pip Arsenal to land Sporting Lisbon striker Gyokeres. The Gunners are keen on the former Coventry hitman, 27, but are also chasing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Sweden striker Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting last season, has an £85m release clause. But it is understood that the Portuguese side would accept a fee closer to £60m this summer. United boss Ruben Amorim is now ready to raid his former club after the boost in their accounts. Yet the Glazers' debt still casts a long shadow over the fallen giants, whose wage bill was down a huge £20m to £71.2m compared with a year ago. United have now spent an astonishing £1.2bn on the debt in 20 years of the Americans' ownership. According to the BBC, £815m in debt interest repayments; £166m in dividends to shareholders; £197m in external net debt repayments and £10m in management and administration fees to the Glazer family companies has left the club since the Glazers bought it in June 2005. Meanwhile, chief executive Omar Berrada warned United must improve after a humiliating season in which they finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final against Tottenham. Viktor Gyokeres responds as he is asked if he 'likes London' amid Arsenal transfer links He said: 'We were proud to reach the final of the Europa League but ultimately were disappointed to finish as runner-up in Bilbao. 'We had a difficult season in the Premier League, which fell below our standards, and we have a clear expectation of improvement next season.' United have already agreed to pay £62.5m to land forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves. And they are chasing a £55m deal for Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo as they attempt to stay within the Prem's Profit and Sustainability Rules. But Amorim will also need to offload a clutch of big-name players from a group including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Casemiro.
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Hated Man Utd owners The Glazers cost Red Devils £1.2BILLION as club release latest finances
Club have given an update on plans to build a new stadium Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE GLAZERS have cost Manchester United £1.2billion in their nightmare 20-year reign. When the controversial Americans purchased the club in June 2005, they paid a whopping £790m. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The Glazers have cost United £1.2bn Credit: AFP 5 Fans have protested against their owners Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Sir Jim Ratcliffe has implemented brutal cost-cutting measures Credit: Getty But the deal was funded by borrowed cash and it dumped £604m in debt onto United, who had just £50m borrowed previously. As the Glazers reach the two decade mark in charge, over £1bn has been lost in debt interest, debt repayments, dividends and fees to the family. BBC claim £815m has gone towards debt interest repayments, £166m in dividends to shareholders and £10m in fees to Glazer family companies. And while things continue to get worse on the pitch, finally, things are at least looking up financially. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'MISSED BY ALL' Heartbreak for England legend as wife dies after months battling illness Brutal cost-cutting introduced by £1.3bn part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe are beginning to pay dividends - even if 450 staff jobs were wiped out along with free lunches amidst a host of other spending slashes. In the club's accounts for the third quarter of this year, payments to employees by comparison to 12 months ago were down a huge £20m to £71.2m – a drop of almost 22 per cent. Going out of the 2023-24 Champions League and into the Europa League actually HELPED the figures in not paying extra player bonus costs as well as non-playing staff departures. Total operating expenses for the quarter were £162.1m, a decrease of £41.6m, or 20.4 per cent, over the prior year quarter. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And operating profit was at £700,000, compared to an operating loss of £66.2m this time last year. Ratcliffe and his recently downgraded Ineos head honcho Sir Dave Brailsford can point to their financial re-structuring having a near-instant impact. But chief executive Omar Berrada pointed the finger at the side that finished a shocking 15th in the table – and will have no European football at all in the forthcoming campaign after losing to Tottenham in the last chance saloon Europa League final. He declared: "We were proud to reach the final of the Europa League but ultimately we were disappointed to finish as runner-up in Bilbao. 'We had a difficult season in the Premier League which we all know fell below our standards and we have a clear expectation of improvement next season.' Berrada and the rest of the Old Trafford hierarchy are working hard to back boss Ruben Amorim in this summer's transfer market having already forked out £62.5m – in what will be three instalments – for Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Despite Ratcliffe warning earlier this year that those sweeping cuts were necessary to stop the club going bust by last Christmas – and concerns over staying within profit and sustainability rules - a £55m bid for Bryan Mbuemo was registered this week. Brentford want at least £60m for the wide attacker and will almost certainly get their money although United, finances improving or not, will also have to sell. Alejandro Garnacho has been told he's going and is valued at £60m while Amorim wants to dump Jadon Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford along with Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia. Yet as United juggle their funds to aid the rebuild, the club point to improvements off the pitch. Plans for a new £200bn stadium are progressing, Berrada stressing: 'We remain focused on infrastructure, with the redevelopment of our Carrington Training Complex continuing and on track. 'It will be the heart of our club, providing world class facilities for all our teams and our staff. 'We have also announced our aspiration to pursue a new 100,000-seater stadium, sitting at the heart of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area, which would be a catalyst for growth and investment in our local community. 'We are continuing to work with all the relevant stakeholders, including central Government, to support their vision for growth.' Even the dropping value of the US dollar is working in United's favour. The club's American borrowings still stand at $650m – the same as last year at the same time but due to the USD/GBP exchange rate in GBP United now owe £500.9m compared to £511.3m. United are happy with what they say are 'strong revenues which increased by 17.4 per cent driven by additional matchday and broadcast money by thanks to going all the way to Bilbao as opposed to dropping out of last season's Champions League at the group stage." 5 United want to build a new 100,00-seater stadium Credit: AP
