The transfer market never works in isolation and Manchester United felt this firsthand when their outlay on Harry Maguire in 2019 prevented them from signing Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.
Now, it looks like their Premier League rivals are feeling the brunt of the same effect, having had bids in the region of £65 million rejected for Marc Guehi.
The Crystal Palace defender was also the subject of United’s interest earlier but it went nowhere as they club shifted to other targets.
The Magpies, however, seem to have made Guehi their prime target and even if they don’t manage to land him, the current state of affairs already proves that Ineos have landed this window’s best deal at Manchester United.
Manchester United’s deal ages like wine
Fans were slightly concerned when there were chances that United might go the Maguire route with their chase for Jarrad Branthwaite.
Understandably so, since they had already been burnt by fees in the case of the likes of Antony and Maguire.
However, Ineos proved they are different from the previous regime by walking away from it and signing two other centre-backs regardless.
Leny Yoro arrived for a fee close to £60 million but that can hardly be called a bargain as United needed to blow Real Madrid out of the water and the player is only 18.
- READ MORE: Who Is Leny Yoro? Parents, Social Media, Lille Career, Man Utd Move
The other deal, however, has aged like fine wine in the context of Newcastle bidding £65 million and getting rejected for Guehi.
Matthijs de Ligt arrived for a fee that could go up to £45 million if all add-ons are met. It still makes him one of Manchester United’s most expensive defenders but in the current climate, that is a ridiculously good deal.
This is a player who is just one year older than Guehi, with league titles in three countries, and captaincy credentials for all clubs he has been a part of, including the national team as well.
Guehi is an extremely talented defender in his own right but purely comparing their pedigree in the game, it’s a no-contest.
Add the difference in transfer fees, and the deal for De Ligt really puts into perspective how unique of an opportunity United have pounced upon.
The English tax
To their credit, United quickly realised that buying from another Premier League club, even in the Profit and Sustainability Rules era, is a fool’s errand.
The modern Premier League is effectively a super league on its own where the relegated team earns more than the title winners of most other top-five leagues, let alone leagues below that.
Therefore, there is absolutely no need for teams to sell to other Premier League teams outside of a laughable amount that nobody else would pay.
United got stuck in this cycle previously with their signings of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and then by narrowing their focus on Ajax/Dutch players.
This time, even though the Dutch connection remains strong, they have cast their net far and wide and pounced on opportunities instead of sticking their guns over a single player.
It has led to landing them one of the best deals in the market which just looks like a bigger masterstroke in the wake of developments surrounding Newcastle’s chase of Marc Guehi.
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