The crushing defeat of Manchester United in the Europa League final means that the Red Devils are confronted with an uncertain future when it comes to recruiting new talent this summer, with Liverpool now dictating the transfer goals of Ruben Amorim
While the last whistle sounded in the San Mames Stadium on Wednesday evening, Tottenham Hotspur was crowned European League champions, while Manchester United was hit with a new and harsh reality. United was toothless and uninspired when they had spurs conquer their first major trophy since 2008.
The Scrappy 1-0 win also donated Ange Postecolou the added dusting of Champions League football for next season. Ruben Amorim's side now runs away from the 2024/2025 season after he had not recorded silverware, and there is a real threat that they can now end up as low as 17th in the table if the results do not go on their way this weekend.
While United desperately tries to prevent humiliation on the last day of the Premier League on Sunday, just a few miles away the East Lancs Road, Liverpool will cancel their 20th top-flight trophy. What all this could mean for the pull in the United transfer market is largely unprecedented.
Without offering European football, as well as the financial implications that the loss of Wednesday entails, even the most avid of the United Loyalists will be worried.
However, Liverpool now looks like they are willing to sit on the top table in Europe when it comes to transfers, and it seems that the Red Devils have been left to party on their leftovers.
Reports suggest that United has entered the race for Lyon -wing player Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old French star was considered a target for Arne Slot, but Liverpool is now supposed to have paid their attention to one of the most requested players on the continent in the form of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz.
The reality of United, who is now haunting the backup transfer options of their brightest rivals, will be an uncomfortable truth and a bitter pill for the Old Trafford Faithful to swallow. But it is just a blow to suck up, because they are forced to lean back and look while the Anfield -Outfit happily chased the number of Sir Alex Ferguson to them years ago.
The performance of Slot this season also means that Liverpool has collected 47 major trophies in England and has arranged as the most successful club in the country, while United stays at 44 – the stuff of nightmares for people on the red side of Manchester.
However, they are still united in name and, regardless of the misery they cross, good players will come. United is supposed to have faith in signing Wolves playmaker Matheus Cunha for £ 62.5 million and they are also strongly interested in the striker Liam Delap of Ipswich Town.
Before their Europa League-final crash-out, Amorim confirmed that the club had an unforeseen event if they lose, but he did not shy away from what defeat would ultimately mean.
“We have two plans, even for the market,” he said. “And we must understand that that is difficult for a club like us not to be in the Champions League.”
With Bayern Munich who offers heavyweight competition for Wirtz's signature, Liverpool will probably have to find out a club record costs to take him to Anfield.
But even if Wirtz remains elusive, Liverpool closes the signing of Leverkusen Full-back Jeremie Frimpong, while he is connected to players such as Julien Alvarez of Atletico Madrid and Bournemouth's exciting left back Milos Kerkez would have to send shock waves by United.
Because there is reason to think that changing the guard, from the Red Devils to the Reds, maybe here is to stay for a while.