Former Manchester United bidder has drawn up a transfer strategy as part of a fresh bid plan for the Premier League side.
Manager Thomas Ziliakas has outlined his transfer plans as he prepares to approach investors regarding a bid for Manchester United. The Finnish businessman made an offer to the club two years ago and is currently drafting a revised proposal.
Ziliakas and his XXI Century Capital launched a bid for United in 2023, when the Glazer family made it clear they would consider an offer. He was compared to the likes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim.
But the bid came too late, with Mr Ratcliffe’s Ineos securing nearly 30 per cent of the club’s shares. New rumors suggest a bid from the United Arab Emirates could be tipped off and United could be taken over if “high-level negotiations” are reached.
Ziliakas confirmed that he is open to working with investors and launching a new bid. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football, he also outlined how he plans to deal with Ruben Amorim’s poor form and what transfers will be prioritized, including a former £125m transfer.
“So we didn’t have great success under Sir Jim Ratcliffe. I don’t think anyone can claim that. So there’s no need to criticize him. I’m sure he did his best. But unfortunately, in my opinion, there were some poor choices in terms of players. The new manager, it may be a little early to say whether he can turn things around.”
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“Of course, it’s not just about the manager, it’s about the team he’s playing for… There’s a lot of money being put into the club, but we haven’t seen the results yet. I think this also reminds us of another very important thing: this is a team.”
The Finnish former Nokia chief executive then detailed what areas he would improve if given the reins. He particularly looked down on signing superstars.
“So, at the end of the day, soccer is a very simple game,” Ziliakas continued. “It’s more important to score more goals than concede. We need good attack and good defense, and in between that we need a good midfield.”
“I’m going to be honest and look at every part of the team. We’ve got some very good players, but I think there’s always room for improvement. But it’s not about aggressively recruiting the biggest stars around.
“A good example is Neymar, although he has already passed the peak. Even in his prime, I would never have brought a player like Neymar to Manchester United, because Neymar is a player that everyone else expects to play for him.
“I want to build the club around young, strong players who have already proven that they are really good and top-class, but who still have the hunger to prove themselves to go further.
“That should be the backbone of the team. That way you can have some experienced players in the gel as well. I think it’s always good to mix it up, because the more mature the players, the more experienced players also know what to do when things don’t go well.”
Although he was planning on seeing Neymar in his prime, Ziliakas named a player he believes fits the profile of the player he admires. That star is Ousmane Dembele, who once commanded a price tag of £125 million to Barcelona.
“Look at PSG, Ousmane Dembele is just the perfect example,” he added. “Barcelona were very happy to see him leave. Now he has won the Ballon d’Or and he is a star player in a team who is allowed to play as he should. But I think the manager has succeeded in making him understand that if he wants to be a star he has to work hard and now he is doing that.”
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