Mark Goldbridge has located £50 million for Manchester United to spend on another player after conducting what he described as “basic maths” live on The United Stand.

Goldbridge opened his programme by declaring that United supporters had been “scammed” following reports that the club may need to sell players before making another significant signing.

United have spent approximately £148 million rebuilding their midfield this summer, signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton, Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.

Goldbridge reduced that expenditure to around £80 million by removing Baleba’s fee from the calculation.

“I don’t even count this Baleba fee,” he said. “It was in last year’s budget.”

His reasoning was that United had been willing to spend approximately £70 million on Baleba during the previous summer and possessed similar funds while pursuing Antoine Semenyo in January. Because the money had apparently been available before, Goldbridge argued that it should not form part of this summer’s spending.

Baleba remained at Brighton last year and completed his transfer to United this week.

Goldbridge then credited the club with £100 million for qualifying for the Champions League and approximately £30 million from player sales. After subtracting the adjusted £80 million transfer expenditure, he concluded that United had made £50 million.

That money, he suggested, could fund a new left-back.

Reports place United’s guaranteed UEFA distribution before the Champions League begins at approximately £44.8 million. Further prize money, matchday income and commercial revenue could increase the eventual value considerably, although it does not immediately arrive as a single £100 million transfer fund.

Football transfers are also commonly paid through instalments and accompanied by wages, agent fees and existing obligations. Money discussed during an unsuccessful pursuit is not permanently reserved for the player or automatically carried into a later accounting period.

Goldbridge’s broader complaint concerned the club’s communication with supporters. He argued that fans continue paying for tickets, television subscriptions and shirts without receiving a clear explanation of United’s financial position.

The club had instead advertised that supporters purchasing a new shirt could receive a free Champions League badge.

United have not publicly identified another £50 million available for transfers.

Goldbridge found it by placing their most expensive summer signing into a transfer window in which he did not sign.