Ruben Amorim handed major January blow just hours into the transfer window as point deduction threat revealed

Manchester United have already been handed a major blow less than a day into the January transfer window – and the potential for a ‘points deduction’ for several clubs has emerged.

Man United currently sit 14^th in the Premier League after 19 games. Ruben Amorim’s side are just seven points above Ipswich Town, who are in the relegation zone.

Amorim, 39, will no doubt want to recruit his own choice of players but may be unable to as the MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst reported that the club have “no budget” to “reinforce” their squad in this month’s transfer window.

It is claimed that United’s £206.06m summer spend has resulted in them being left without the funds to recruit players this month.

Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro were all welcomed to the club by Erik ten Hag last summer.

‘Sources’ have explained that the club would have to “sell to buy” to fall in line with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) as well as financial fair play regulations.

And if the club were to breach PSR, this could result in severe penalties. Last season, both Everton and Nottingham Forest were handed points deductions for breaching financial rules, with the Toffees sustaining a ten-point deduction – reduced to six on appeal - in November 2023 before being docked a further two points in April 2024.

Forest received a four-point deduction for breaching PSR, in March 2024.

Ruben Amorim has endured a tough start to life at Man Utd (Credit:Getty)

The club appealed, but the sanctions were upheld by an appeal board after the case was heard on April 24 2024, according to BBC Sport.

So, if United were to breach the financial regulations put in place, they could also be at risk of being dealt a points deduction, but this is not currently thought to be a prospect.

However, funds could be raised by selling or loaning players, which would free up United’s hefty wage bill. Yesterday, the Mail reported that up to seven players could be ‘sold’ in the current or future transfer windows.

It was reported on December 31 that four Premier League clubs faced a “nervous wait” following the league’s PSR deadline submission but United were not included.

The Mirror claimed that Chelsea, Forest, Everton and relegation-threatened Leicester are “all at potential risk of a points deduction” if they are found to have recorded losses over the £105m allowed by the league.

After the Red Devils’ 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle on Monday, Amorim discussed the prospect of signings in the window.

"We don't have that possibility [to make signing] in January if we don't take some players [out]," said Amorim [via BBC Sport].

"You know the situation better than me.

"It is not that I am arriving here and know I can spend money changing the team."