Manchester United, owned by the American Glazer family, are a club that spare no expense. After Madrid rejected an initial offer of €50 million for Sergio Ramos, United have made a second bid for €60 million.
In the club’s expense sheet from last season they had Ángel Di María (€75 million), Luke Shaw (€37.5 million) and Ander Herrera (€36 million). Before that they had Juan Mata (€44 million) and Marouane Fellaini (€32 million).
The Old Trafford club have been named as the most valuable club in the world this year, ahead of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, according to Brand Finance, an international consulting form specialising in market research and brand values. “They have the Ronaldo of finance, Ed Woodward, vice chairman of Manchester United," said David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance.
This summer, United have a budget of over €250 million to spend on new players (after taking fourth place in the Premier League). The brand value is €1,070 million. And the price of Ramos does not seem to be a problem. According to The Times, United are hoping Ramos signals publically his desire to leave so they can complete a deal. They want to know that the Seville-born defender is not simply using United to improve his contract with Madrid, as former defender Rio Ferdinand suggested earlier this week. The English club has promised that Ramos would receive €55 million over five seasons. That would provide his last big contract, until 2020 when he will be 33, compared to the one in Madrid which runs until 2017, when he will be 31.
Neither the English club nor Sergio Ramos wants to link any deal with the possible transfer of David de Gea. The other way around. Ed Woodward is rubbing his hands. Every extra million euros that Madrid add to the Ramos deal will be reflected in any efforts to sign De Gea. Manchester United are comfortable with the situation. Madrid are in the middle of a cold war that involved the leaders at both the Bernabéu and Old Trafford.