Clubs will not splurge on transfer when football resumes: Manchester United chief Ed Woodward


Clubs will not splurge on transfer when football resumes: Manchester United chief Ed Woodward

Ed Woodward 1273406

Manchester United Chief executive Ed Woodward has said that the clubs will not spend “hundreds of millions” while signing new players in the transfer window as they know the financial crisis impact due to COVID-19.

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Many English clubs have seen a loss in revenue due to halting and directing to non-playing staff being layoff. Woodward said it would be a crucial time in the market and it may not be ‘business as usual’ for clubs including United when they talk about singing new players.

“We need visibility of the impact across the whole industry, including timings of the transfer window and the wider financial picture, before we can talk about a return to normality,” Woodward said in a United fans forum on Friday.

“On this basis, I cannot help feeling that speculation around transfers of individual players for hundreds of millions of pounds this summer seems to ignore the realities that face the sport,” he added.

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“Football will not be fully back into action until supporters are back” says, Woodward.

Woodward believes the season could be achieved with fifth-placed for Champions League qualifications and still in the assertion in the Europa League and FA Cup.

Woodward also said that when League resumes first few games may be played without spectators in the stadium as the Premier League is not expected to start until May.

“While it may be that games need to be played behind closed doors in the shorter term, we all recognise that football will not be fully back to normal until supporters are once again in attendance,” Woodward said.

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“We are pushing ahead with a series of initiatives to enhance the matchday experience at Old Trafford, including… the planned trial of rail seating, and the completion of our expanded state-of-the-art facilities for disabled supporters. These matters pale in comparison with the immediate priority of fighting coronavirus. But they give us things to look forward to when we are eventually allowed back to Old Trafford to watch football,” he added.