MANCHESTER UNITED FROM OUTHOUSE TO PENTHOUSE

Luxury hotel among chic shops of Chicago awaits United on tour, but Amorim knows they have been more Poundland than Prada

- FROM DAVID MCDONNELL

MANCHESTER UNITED'S base for their preseason tour is the opulent Waldorf Astoria hotel in Chicago.

It is nestled among chic designer shops like Versace, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton.

Given last season's lamentable 15th-place finish in the Premier League and slow progress in this summer's transfer window, a more appropriate retail backdrop would be Poundland, Poundstretcher and Cash Generator.

United may have signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are close to confirming the arrival of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, but boss Ruben Amorim wants at least two more new faces.

He also needs to shift players out to raise revenue.

The failure to secure European football, following the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final, means fewer fixtures next season and a smaller squad.