MANCHESTER UNITED are facing an uphill battle to move on some of their unwanted players, including one forgotten title-winning star.
The Red Devils find themselves needing to sell this summer in order to bring in new signings beyond the addition of Matheus Cunha and impending arrival of Bryan Mbeumo.
GettyRuben Amorim and Manchester United need to sell some of the deadwood before they can bring in any more signings[/caption]
It’s a situation that United have rarely found themselves in – struggling to find the funds to bring in their transfer targets.
Their financial woes are born out of a shocking campaign last term, failing to qualify for Europe for the first time since 2015.
And although they are safe with regard to FFP, United will need to sell before they can buy – backed up by chief Omar Berrada’s admission that they “are going to have to balance the books” to United We Stand.
Historically, selling isn’t something that United have been particularly good at, with The Athletic reporting that club insiders have described departures as “an afterthought” in the past.
While United have made just £105.5m in profit from player sales over the past five years, a figure dwarfed by the £508.6m and £435.8m that Chelsea and Man City have made in the same period.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe also revealed that the club will have to foot an £89m bill this summer to pay off deals for players already at the club – including Jadon Sancho‘s 2021 switch from Borussia Dortmund.
There’s plenty of players United can try and move on to raise funds for new incomings, but actually finding buyers is proving much more difficult.
The Athletic claim that Old Trafford execs are struggling to find a market for forgotten man Tyrell Malacia, who spent the second half of last season on loan with PSV – ultimately winning the Eredivisie.
GettyUnited are struggling to find a buyer for forgotten man Tyrell Malacia[/caption]
GettyMalacia won the Eredivisie while on loan at PSV last season[/caption]
GettyUnited are also trying to move on Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford[/caption]
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Malacia is surplus to requirements under Ruben Amorim, but there doesn’t exactly appear to be a queue of clubs waiting to take him away from Manchester on a permanent exit.
Jadon Sancho is another player that United would like to try and move on, but his mammoth wages are making things difficult.
SunSport revealed earlier this week that Jose Mourinho could offer a lifeline to the winger’s miserable spell at United, offering £15m to bring him to Fenerbahce – a fee dramatically below the £73m the Red Devils initially splashed on the England international.
Marcus Rashford is in a similar position, holding out for a big move to Barcelona, but seeing his options limited to predominantly loan offers due to his £370,000-per-week wages.
Alejandro Garnacho is understood to be on a much lower wage, meaning he could drum up more interest in a permanent exit and a hefty fee.
It’s reported that United would like £70m for Garnacho, but it could be hard to command such a fee when it is clear the Argentine has no place in the squad under Amorim.
Should he leave for £70m, he will become United’s second highest sale in the club’s history – a damning example of how poor they have managed their departures over the years.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the club’s record sale, sealing his move to Real Madrid in 2009 for £80m.
While Romelu Lukaku‘s £63m switch to Inter Milan and Angel Di Maria’s £53m departure to PSG are the only other exits that exceeded the £50m mark.
Historic transfers such as David Beckham‘s Real Madrid exit and Jaap Staam’s 2001 move to Lazio still remain in the top 10 departures decades on from their completions.
While recent switches for Dan James, Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood are also in the top 10.
