A year ago
Sancho, Maguire & Martial among the 13 Man United stars who could leave
this summer
Manchester United is reportedly prepared to entertain offers for up to 13 players during the upcoming summer transfer window. The club aims to generate a substantial sum of £100 million from these sales to bolster their funds for new signings. As manager Erik ten Hag seeks to navigate Financial Fair Play restrictions, his transfer budget has been significantly reduced to approximately £120 million. Consequently, United is determined to negotiate lower fees for their targeted players and save money for other acquisitions. This cautious approach is evident in their reluctance to meet Chelsea's valuation of £65 million for Mason Mount.
The search for a striker has proved challenging due to the high price tags associated with top targets such as Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, Victor Osimhen from Napoli, and Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta. Furthermore, United has initiated discussions with Inter Milan regarding goalkeeper Andre Onana, whose potential transfer cost is estimated at around £40 million.
The club hopes to raise a minimum of £50 million, possibly even £100 million, through player sales. However, industry insiders dismiss any notion of a fire sale, emphasizing that not all 13 players will be leaving. Notably, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Harry Maguire, and Scott McTominay are not being forced out of Old Trafford. United is content to retain them and provide opportunities to compete for their positions. Losing any of these four individuals would create a void in the squad, necessitating reinforcements before the new season.
United would consider offers in the region of £45 million for Sancho, who has struggled to meet expectations since his £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund two years ago. Maguire, despite being the club's captain, may be allowed to depart if a £40 million bid materializes. While Maguire's playing time was limited last season, he remains a regular for the England national team. Martial, whose contract enters its final year, could be sold for approximately £25 million, as his performances were inconsistent, partly due to injuries.
Scott McTominay, a product of United's youth system, is highly valued by the club. However, his opportunities were restricted following the arrivals of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen last summer. If the Scottish midfielder desires a fresh start, United would understand and consider offers around £40 million. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson falls into a similar category, as United would sell him for the right price. A permanent move to Nottingham Forest worth £15 million plus add-ons has been speculated, contingent on David de Gea signing a new contract. However, de Gea's future remains uncertain, potentially altering Henderson's role within the team.
The remaining eight players are actively being sought out for new clubs, with the possibility of some leaving on loan or even as free transfers. Among them, midfielders Fred and Donny van de Beek, as well as striker Anthony Elanga, have been assigned a price tag of £20 million. Fred has garnered interest from Fulham, while German clubs are reportedly tracking Elanga. Defenders Alex Telles and Eric Bailly, who spent last season on loan, are available for £10 million and £2 million, respectively. Brandon Williams holds a valuation of approximately £5 million. Tunisia midfielder Hannibal Mejbri is valued at £13 million, and a deal has already been agreed upon to sell Zidane Iqbal to Utrecht for an initial fee of £850,000, with significant add-ons included.
In summary, Manchester United intends to be proactive in the transfer market, potentially offloading several players to raise funds for new signings. The club aims to strike a balance between financial prudence and squad improvement as they navigate the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play.
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