Gary Neville has labelled Manchester United’s new club-wide salary cap as “radical” and is worried that it could turn off potential targets in the transfer market.
With the January transfer window underway and United having already secured the services of Jack Butland as their back-up goalkeeper, they are now said to be looking at bolstering their attacking options following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, as per reports by the MailOnline, manager Erik ten Hag is apparently implementing a £200k-a-week wage cap, with no current or future player allowed to earn beyond this threshold.
Responding to the news, the club legend turned pundit and Salford City owner suggested the move is a rather severe step and one that could rule out big signings.
Not sure why any radical new policy is being introduced IF new owners are imminent https://t.co/aI7EzmoOTk
As detailed in the piece, the following players who are currently on over £200k-a-week are reportedly set to take pay cuts in the coming weeks, with long-time servant David de Gea the first to face a reduction:
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David de Gea – £375k
Jadon Sancho – £350k
Raphael Varane – £340k
Casemiro – £300k
Anthony Martial – £250k
Bruno Fernandes – £240k
Neville goes on to argue that not only does the wage cap — not unlike that in place at the likes of Spurs (Harry Kane the highest-earner on £200k) — mean that they could lose out on big names like Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, but it hints that the Glazers aren’t as close to selling as fans would hope.
While ten Hag’s aim is clearly to garner further solidarity by eliminating financial rifts between players, especially given various members of the current squad were acquired under different regimes, the former United and England right-back believes it will take them out of the running for marquee signings.
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Capping wages is a radical policy. Rules out Rice , Bellingham and others in that bracket. Any new owners would probably want to enter the running for these types and probably Mbappe as well. Anyway enjoy Sunday https://t.co/tnHZMEc3zH
Responding to a commenter who argued that this kind of system should have already been in place regardless of the current ownership, the 47-year-old went on to note that neighbours Man City had a similar system in place until the prospect of generational talents like Erling Haaland became available.
He also warned that it could prove a ‘strange’ and problematic policy having multiple key players like de Gea, Casemiro and Raphael Varane on more than £200k in the current dressing room, who will now have to accept a pay decrease should they want to stay at the club.
On the other hand, it seems clear that the Dutch coach wants to avoid future CR7-esque situations in the future, i.e. when a spiralling and already volatile budget fluctuates depending on the flavour of the month/inflated market and ultimately disturbs the overall equilibrium within the camp.
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More importantly, speaking in a recent interview, the former Ajax man reiterated that cost doesn’t always correlate with quality:
Ten Hag: “Most purchases have been average – and at #mufc average is not good enough. United's shirt weighs heavily. Only real personalities, who can perform under great pressure, can play here.”
For now, at least, the rationale seems to be that United’s salary restructuring signals a desire from ten Hag to be shrewder and more strategic when it comes to new signings, rather than simply paying the premium when a player’s stock skyrockets.
The United wage cap is long overdue in the eyes of many fans, with one person remarking that “too many players are being paid way too much for what they’ve delivered”, adding that “ten Hag doing a great job and improving players and the culture around the club.”
On the other hand, many noted that if this new limit is set to be introduced, it will likely be a base rate with players still able to earn beyond that sum through appearance and goal bonuses etc.
What do you think, good or bad idea? Either way, ten Hag certainly looks to be putting his foot down.
Featured Image — Gary Neville (via Sky Sports)/ Man United (via Twitter)
Sport
adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to reward themselves with free Nell’s pizza this weekend, thanks to a collaboration with adidas and JD.
The sportswear giants will be teaming up with one of the city’s top pizza spots to hand out the ultimate post-race reward at Kampus this Sunday.
It’s all to celebrate the launch of the new adidas EVO SL ATRs, a shoe that’s built with running miles in mind.
And there’ll be a chance to grab an exclusive t-shirt too, and have your official marathon finish time branded on-site.
adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal / Credit: Supplied
As well as a free slice of Nell’s famous New York-style pizza and a drink, Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to enter into a range of giveaways, with prizes including the EVO SL ART, adidas merch, and range of other prizes.
And you’ll be recovering with a slice in hand and a live DJ keeping the post-race energy high
All you need to do is show your Manchester Marathon medal at Nell’s at Kampus, to grab your free slice, and check out adidas and JD’s latest drop.
Friends and family are encouraged to join too – after all, all runners know a marathon isn’t possible without that support crew.
There are also a bunch of giveaways and more to look forward to / Credit: Supplied
Pizza slices will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so make sure your sprint to Nell’s is your fastest yet.
Thankfully, the adidas EVO SL’s are built for speed…
adidas x JD x Nell’s – Manchester Marathon event
Taking place on Sunday 19 April, from 12pm to 8pm
Free pizza slice and a drink when you show your Manchester Marathon medal (while stocks last)
Exclusive merch and great prize giveaways from adidas and JD
Plus photo moments, live DJs, and more
Find it at The Bungalow, Kampus, M1 3GL (next to Nell’s)
Dave Challinor ‘extends’ Kyle Wooton’s career ‘by five years’ as Stockport County striker turns CB
Danny Jones
Stockport County manager Dave Challinor has quipped that he might have just extended star striker Kyle Wootton’s career “by five years” at the very least by moving him to centre-back.
Challinor‘s squad has been riddled with a fair few fitness setbacks for a good chunk of the season, but following Joseph Olowu’s MCL injury, he has now been left with just one traditional central defender available for selection.
As a result of this growing crisis, Wootton has been moved to centre-half for the time being, making his full debut in defence earlier this week.
Better still, he helped shore up County’s backline well enough to secure them not only three more important points but a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.
Naturally, with the Hatters having one of League One‘s leading scorers in Wootton with a total of 22 contributions so far (19 goals and three assists), it’s fair to say no one was expecting to see him pulled out of the position in which he’s reached new heights this term.
Already putting together his most productive campaign ever – netting more finishes across all competitions in 2025/26 than in any of his previous professional calendar performances – fans will no doubt be wanting him to return up top as soon as possible, but for now, Challinor is taking the gamble.
There is the possibility of January signing from Bolton, Josh Dacres-Cogley, taking up the mantle when he returns from injury, and County have since recalled youth product Christy Grogan from his loan, but for now, the 6’3″ centre-forward may have just discovered another option for the future of his career.
Nevertheless, despite the 29-year-old striker expressing some of his own concerns about playing such a crucial role at the other end of the pitch, his gaffer has already said he’s happy to flak should anything go awry in the coming weeks.
However, although County were unable to win the EFL Vertu Trophy Final against Luton earlier this month, where Wootton first had to drop back into defence, he met the assignment when making his maiden defensive appearance on Wednesday night.
While obviously not ideal, the travelling Stockport supporters were left pretty impressed, too.
"Kyle Wootton's magic, he wears a magic hat…" coming from the 700 travelling #StockportCounty.
Commenting on ‘Woots’ even showing a willingness to take on the task in the first place, his head coach labelled him “the most selfless player I’ve worked with in terms of doing jobs for the team.”
A glowing review, indeed, and that’s beyond the huge impact he’s already had in attack over the year.
Speaking to County TV, he went on to say: “We’ve probably extended his career by five years, haven’t we? […] When he gets tired of sticking the ball in the net, he can stop people at the other end.”
Noting that his side currently possesses “more fit forwards than defenders, he added: “It becomes about finding a way. I didn’t think that way would be having our leading goalscorer at centre-back, but it’s worked for us on the night, and we’ll see what Saturday [at Exeter City] looks like.”
You can hear Dave Challinor’s post-match interview in full right HERE and see the highlights from an important win over Wimbledon down below.
Danny Jones -
10th January 2023 
