Jim Ratcliffe is set to implement another wave of staff redundancies at Manchester United, with 100 more employees facing job losses. This move brings the total number of staff reductions under his tenure to 350 since taking a controlling stake at Old Trafford.

The club has endured financial turmoil, accumulating losses of approximately £300 million (€360 million) over the past three years. Employees within the organization are reportedly concerned that they are bearing the brunt of financial mismanagement at the executive level.

Despite Ratcliffe’s financial injections totaling £241 million to stabilize the club’s immediate cash flow, insiders acknowledge that the long-term financial outlook remains precarious.

These latest cutbacks coincide with broader cost-saving initiatives within Ratcliffe’s petrochemical giant, Ineos. The company recently announced a cost-cutting drive following reports of legal action from New Zealand Rugby regarding an alleged breach of a lucrative sponsorship agreement.

In a broader shake-up of Ineos’ sports division, Ratcliffe has overseen significant changes, including parting ways with Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup sailing team and restructuring leadership at the Ineos Grenadiers cycling outfit, where new sponsorship deals are being pursued.

However, turning around Manchester United’s fortunes has become Ratcliffe’s foremost sporting priority. Since acquiring a 28.94% stake in the club, he has invested a staggering £1.25 billion. The latest job cuts reflect his strategy of reallocating expertise from other Ineos sporting ventures to Old Trafford in an effort to revitalize the club.

Last summer, Ratcliffe approved the layoff of 250 employees, and with United currently struggling in 13th place in the Premier League, sources suggest operational costs remain excessive both on and off the pitch.

Employees have been briefed that all financial options are being considered, including reducing expenses and maximizing revenue streams. While no formal announcement has been made regarding the additional 100 job cuts, reports indicate a decision will be finalized imminently.

Affected staff members believe these redundancies are a consequence of costly recruitment missteps over the past year, including high-profile appointments such as Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth. Furthermore, last summer’s substantial £200 million transfer spending—bringing in players like Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, and Manuel Ugarte—has faced scrutiny, as many of these signings have yet to justify their price tags.

Despite Ratcliffe’s influence, the Glazers remain the majority owners of Manchester United. The club’s latest financial reports reveal a net loss of £113 million for the 2023-24 season, contributing to an overall deficit of £370 million over the past five years.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has sent a strong message to Manchester United and their head coach Ruben Amorim, insisting that his side will be much stronger when they face off in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs have struggled in recent weeks, losing five of their last eight matches while dealing with a mounting injury crisis. Their most recent setback saw them crash out of the FA Cup against Aston Villa, a result that has intensified scrutiny on Postecoglou.

Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League, Tottenham trail United—who appointed Amorim in November—by just two points. However, Postecoglou believes things are about to turn in his favor, thanks to some key advantages leading up to this crucial fixture.

For the first time in 2025, Spurs will have a full week without a midweek game, allowing players to rest and the coaching staff to implement their strategies more effectively. Additionally, key defensive players Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie are expected to return to training, providing a much-needed boost.

Speaking about the team’s preparations, Postecoglou said: “I’m sticking to what we’ve been doing, but we finally have some time to recover. The guys returning from injury will get a full week of training rather than being thrown straight in, which is a massive plus for us. By the weekend, we’ll have something close to a full squad to work with.”

He also emphasized the benefits of consecutive full training weeks: “We have seven days to prepare for this game and another full week before our next one. That gives us a chance to properly reintegrate those who have been sidelined while giving rest to the players who have been pushing through.”

The return of Van de Ven, Romero, and Udogie is particularly significant, as the trio hasn’t played together since Tottenham’s 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on December 8. Injuries had kept them out for extended periods, with Van de Ven sidelined since October and Romero missing a month of action before that.

Given their lengthy absences, Postecoglou will need to manage their minutes carefully, especially against a United side eager to capitalize on Spurs’ recent struggles. However, with a reinforced squad and a full week of preparation, Tottenham could be in a much stronger position to turn their fortunes around.

Former goalkeeper Ben Foster has weighed in on Jadon Sancho’s recent “freedom” comment to Marcus Rashford, arguing that it exposes the deep-rooted negativity within Manchester United.

Sancho came under scrutiny after commenting “freedom” on Rashford’s social media post celebrating his Aston Villa debut. Foster believes this reaction highlights just how unhappy the environment at Old Trafford has become.

Speaking on his podcast, the ex-United shot-stopper criticized Sancho’s actions: “What is he doing? That’s ridiculous. He’s still a Manchester United player, and so is Marcus Rashford. This just screams toxicity—it feels like everyone is desperate to leave.”

Sancho, who had been sidelined under former manager Erik ten Hag, found temporary refuge at Borussia Dortmund before sealing a loan-to-buy move to Chelsea in 2024. Meanwhile, Rashford has faced similar struggles under current United boss Ruben Amorim. With the club’s on-field struggles continuing, these incidents only add to the negative perception surrounding United.

As fate would have it, Sancho could make his Chelsea debut against Brighton on Friday, while Rashford may get more minutes when Aston Villa take on Ipswich Town the following day.