Nicky Butt uses '£70-80m' Premier League ace to highlight 'scariest thing' at Man Utd right now, it's real eye-opener

Nicky Butt singled out one Premier League talent as a clear-cut example of the problems that Manchester United face in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent head coach at Manchester United since legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford in 2013.

The 40-year-old Portuguese coach entered the Old Trafford hot seat last November and Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag as United manager.

Erik ten Hag was sacked last October after a disastrous start to the 2024-25 Premier League season, with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking over as interim manager.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was United assistant manager to Ten Hag, oversaw four matches during his interim spell ahead of Amorim’s arrival from Sporting CP.

Amorim made a real name for himself as one of Europe’s top managerial prospects after his impressive spell with Primeira Liga outfit Sporting CP.

However, the former Sporting boss has faced a mammoth task at Old Trafford and is attempting to steer the ship for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.

READ MORE: Peter Schmeichel drops biggest defence for Man Utd ace who is ‘forward-looking project’ for Ruben Amorim, he will ‘learn a lot’

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

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Butt on current state of Man Utd

Manchester United have struggled to reassert their dominance over English football after Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at Old Trafford came to an end.

The Red Devils last lifted the Premier League title in the 2012-13 season, with United legend Ferguson subsequently retiring from football management.

Ineos chief and United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously expressed his desire to see United knock Manchester City and Liverpool off their perch.

United legend Nicky Butt insisted that the Red Devils have a “massive” task ahead of them and are a long way off from challenging for the Premier League title again.

Speaking to Stadium Astro, he said: “Listen, Manchester United are a million miles off challenging for the title.

“Look at Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City and the way Chelsea are building. United have a massive job on their hands and it’s going to be three, four, five years before they are in a position to challenge again.

“They might win a cup with a bit of luck but they certainly won’t challenge for the Premier League for a good few years.

“It’s going to take a lot of patience, a lot of planning, a lot of money and good signings to get up to the levels.

“Liverpool are going nowhere, Arsenal will get better, Man City will get a lot better again, Chelsea are getting better.

“As much as I love Manchester United, they don’t have a God-given right to win trophies. It’s a big project.

“They’re not going to get in 10 players this summer and challenge next season, it’s just not going to happen.”

READ MORE: Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim told ‘fantastic player’ was missing two major things under him, he’s ‘mature’ talent

Butt talks Premier League star and Man Utd

United’s struggles have extended to the Red Devils’ waning financial power in the transfer window, with the Premier League club being held back in the market.

The Red Devils are navigating the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) with their spending power and have some players on mammoth wages at the club.

Butt highlighted that a Premier League talent like Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze would have been snapped up by United for a “£70-80m bid” a decade ago.

However, the former United and England midfielder said the “scariest thing” is that the Red Devils no longer have the power to sign a player like Eberechi Eze.

“So, it’s about the project and the plan and it’s going to take time,” Butt said.

“They have to spend money, whatever it costs, on four or five top, proper players, proper men. Then these young boys already at the club can link on to them.

“But who’s telling the young players what to do and how to train at the moment? Manchester United don’t have that core group so they need to get the chequebook out and sign these £80m players that they used to.

“The lad at Palace, Eze, if it was 10 years ago Manchester United would have put a £70-80m bid and taken that boy.

“They can’t do it now because they haven’t got the power and that’s the scariest thing.”

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