Ineos have 13 Manchester United transfers to investigate

There is a scene in Moneyball where the Oakland Athletics's designated hitter David Justice, recruited from the New York Yankees, is appalled to discover the soda machine in the clubhouse is not free.

Later on, Brad Pitt's Billy Beane is in the middle of negotiating the trade of first baseman Carlos Peña. The phone rings. Beane picks up.

"That works. Great," Beane enthuses. "There’s just one more thing I need: I don’t want the guys paying for soda. I want you to stock my soda machine for three years."

A pause. Beane listens.

"Uh huh, uh huh. Great. Then that’s a deal."

Manchester United chose not to disclose Donny van de Beek's loan fee but it could equate to the price of stocking a vending machine at Carrington for three years.

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West Ham paid United a loan fee of £1.5million in January 2021 for Jesse Lingard when he had played three games all season. Van de Beek has appeared twice this season. The loan fee will be minimal.

United sources diplomatically framed it as a deal that is "good for all parties". Unlike with recent loan departures at United, Eintracht are not covering all of Van de Beek's wages.

But Erik ten Hag can no longer leave United a man light by putting Van de Beek on the bench. What undermined his position more was when he clearly considered introducing Van de Beek with United 1-0 down at Nottingham Forest.

There is permanent exit route as Eintracht have the option to buy Van de Beek for €11m rising to €14m. Van de Beek would have to perform like a demon over the next five months to convince his new club that is good business.

United stand to lose £25m on Van de Beek, a