According to reports, Man Utd’s rivals believe Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ‘open to selling’ homegrown players Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford in January.

Man Utd are unable to spend big in the winter transfer window without selling one or two players and know the sale of an academy graduate would benefit them massively.

Homegrown players can be sold for ‘pure profit’, which helps clubs navigate the Premier League’s profit and sustainability guidelines.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that no Premier League club had been charged for breaking PSR rules in 2023/24 but the losses recorded at Old Trafford mean they will struggle to sign players without selling first and certainly not without Champions League football, which is now only achievable from winning the Europa League.

This difficult position has seen Mainoo linked with a shock move to Chelsea, while Napoli and Atletico Madrid are interested in Garnacho.

The Red Devils are reluctant to sell either player having deemed them ‘untouchable’ last March but know it could benefit them in the long run, if they invest the money wisely, which feels pretty unlikely. This Is Manchester United We’re Talking About, after all.

Rashford is another academy graduate who could leave this month. He has not played for the club since December 12 and Ratcliffe is eager to get his £325,000-a-week wages off the books, setting a £50million asking price for the England forward.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365
👉 Man Utd transfer blow as ‘failed medical’ at RB Leipzig sees ‘deal collapse’ amid Rashford interest
👉 Chelsea line up £68.2m deals but which major future transfers have been arranged in Europe?
👉 Cristiano Ronaldo ‘accepts offer’ with Al-Nassr star to ‘receive £168m’ after ‘requesting reunion’

There is plenty of foreign interest in Rashford but no club has made a bid yet. Selling him would solve a lot of problems at Man Utd but his asking price and wage demands are proving to be huge stumbling blocks.

If the sale of the 27-year-old can not be agreed, Man Utd may turn to Mainoo or Garnacho, with the sale of the latter more likely.

According to a report from Telegraph Sport journalist Mike McGrath, rival clubs are ‘ready to pounce’ as Ratcliffe considers selling one of the Red Devils’ prized assets.

Premier League clubs believe Ratcliffe will be ‘more open to a deal in the remaining three weeks of the window opposed to waiting’ until the summer, ‘anticipating’ the billionaire looking to avoid a ‘frantic PSR sale’.

June 30 is the final day of the 2024/25 accounts and Ratcliffe does not want to be forced into a sale then. He would be in a much stronger position by negotiating an exit for Mainoo, Rashford and Garnacho now.

Ruben Amorim’s key trio are deemed ‘assets’ and the pure profit aspect makes them possible January sales, with ‘Chelsea said to be watching Mainoo’s situation’.

Mainoo’s uncertainty is furthered by the lack of movement on a contract extension. He is yet to sign a new deal since breaking into the England squad and feels he deserves a pay rise.

Garnacho, meanwhile, ‘is expected to be subject of offers from foreign clubs’, with Napoli keen after agreeing to sell Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain.

It is not said how much Man Utd would want for Mainoo and Garnacho, though it has been previously reported that Rashford is valued at £50m.

Manchester United have been given a transfer update by reporter Ben Jacobs over their pursuit of a new striker in the January window.

While Ruben Amorim already has Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund as his strikers, both have underwhelmed in front of goal with just 11 goals between them in all competitions.

The new manager has steadied the ship in recent weeks, earning a hard-fought draw at Anfield with one of their best performances of the season whilst overcoming Arsenal in the FA Cup – leaving some to wonder if there will be any additions in January to help take advantage of their upturn in form.

According to Jacobs, any deals for Man United‘s top striking targets will have to wait until the summer, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Amorim’s former star player Viktor Gyokeres both at the top of their wanted list.

Could Amorim reunite with Gyokeres?

“There’s been no outreach to Sporting yet, but what we can say is that Gyokeres price has dropped from his €100 million release clause down to something in the region of €70m,” Jacobs told FourFourTwo.

“He is a bit more affordable and certainly has lower wages and agent fees compared to another historical Manchester United target in Victor Osimhen, but they might look for something more economical or potentially within the Premier League.”

The Swedish international has been in brilliant form this season, continuing to hold his title as Europe’s top scorer with 32 goals in 30 games. He was the top scorer across 2024 and has five goals in six Champions League games this season.

Given he already knows how Amorim wants to play, is blessed with power and pace and has an unearthly hunger to find the back of the net, he would be a dream signing – but they are likely to face stiff competition from Europe’s elite this summer.

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
👉 How Man Utd extension for ’embarrassing’ Amorim favourite has saved the Red Devils millions
👉 Romano reveals Man Utd and Tottenham transfer heartbreak as loan is ‘confirmed’
👉 Diego Maradona could influence Garnacho’s decision to quit Man Utd for Napoli

Or is Osimhen their main target?

“Victor Osimhen is a Manchester United dream target but financially it’s very difficult, even with that release clause dropping to €75million. Nothing is possible in January,” Jacobs told The United Stand.

“Osimhen has not changed his mind. He still wants his next move to be permanent. So the whole, ‘nearly joined Chelsea, nearly joined Saudi, didn’t get either, went temporarily went to Turkey’ hasn’t made the player think, ‘maybe I ought to contemplate a loan with an option’.

“Victor Osimhen is saying: ‘If you want me, you sign me permanently whether at that €75m release clause or a different package like a loan with an obligation’. Add to that £250k a week wages, and Manchester United may find that difficult.

“But they may explore Osimhen over the summer. A lot will just depend on what kind of package Napoli are prepared to give and whether Osimhen changes his mind about joining Manchester United on a loan with an option.”

Having wanted to leave Napoli, he found himself at Galatasaray in a temporary loan deal and he will likely continue to explore a move away in the summer. Plus, there may be funds raised by the sale of the likes of Antony, Alejandro Garnacho or Marcus Rashford.

He has 13 goals and six assists in 17 games this season and would be a powerful addition at the top end of the pitch who would be entering his prime years, having just turned 26.

Man Utd could have saved millions of pounds ahead of the summer transfer window by renewing Harry Maguire’s contract, according to reports.

The Red Devils have had a season to forget with Man Utd currently 13th in the Premier League table after 20 matches.

Erik ten Hag was sacked at the end of October with Ruben Amorim struggling to change lots in his first couple of months in charge, although their last two performances against Liverpool and Arsenal were encouraging for Man Utd supporters.

Amorim is looking to solve issues with the likelihood that Man Utd will struggle to bring in many signings over the January transfer window.

One player who has come to the fore in recent weeks is Maguire – who was stripped of the captaincy under Ten Hag – with the England international looking solid in the centre of a back three.

The Red Devils looked likely to let Maguire go at the end of the season but they will now keep their £80m investment for at least another year.

Maguire always looked better for England in a back three and now Man Utd could be about to benefit from Amorim’s formation change as they avoid big-money defensive signings in the summer.

The Daily Mail claim:

‘Harry Maguire’s renaissance at Manchester United hasn’t only earned the England defender a contract extension, it is also likely to save the club a packet in the transfer market this summer.

‘Maguire was expected to leave Old Trafford as a free agent along with Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans in June, forcing United to make another big signing in central defence a year after forking out £59million to Lille for Leny Yoro.

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
👉 Five steps to Marcus Rashford returning to Manchester United for £86m in Paul Pogba repeat
👉 Insider makes ‘big offer’ claim as Man Utd, Liverpool enter ‘race’ to sign PL star in January
👉 Rashford ‘deadline’ passes as Man Utd outcast fears for ‘priority’ transfer amid Barcelona ‘doubts’

‘But Maguire’s revival this season, particularly since Ruben Amorim took over as head coach and installed him at the heart of a back-three, persuaded United to extend his £190,000-a-week contract until 2026 and may also change their thinking on summer recruitment.

‘Confidential understands that the club will look at a younger centre-back with potential rather than pay big money for a ready-made replacement like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite who would have cost around £70m and £160,000-a-week in wages. That will enable United to re-direct their limited transfer funds to other areas of the team at a time when money is tight at Old Trafford.

‘Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Yoro are set to continue as United’s pool of centre-backs with Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw – if he stays – both able to play in the back-three.

‘Maguire’s return to form and favour continued at the Emirates on Sunday when he was outstanding in United’s FA Cup win over Arsenal on penalties. The 31-year-old’s performance was even better considering he was ill last week and was sent home from training, missing Friday’s session.’

Former Sky Sports presenter Richards Keys was impressed by Man Utd in their penalty shootout win over Arsenal but picked on Maguire for “embarrassingly looking for a pen” at the Emirates Stadium.

Keys wrote in his blog: “I’ve caught up with the game at Arsenal now. Fair play to United. That was another fine performance, but I had to smile when I saw Harry Maguire getting so upset with Havertz.

“What was it Maguire said ‘you cheating scumbag’? Has he ever said that to Fernandes? Or Rashford. Or Pogba when he was diving in the box after being sneezed on I wonder?

“Do you remember that era when United were getting penalties every week until we called it out on beINSPORTS? Fernandes is still at it. And if I’m not mistaken – I’ve even seen Maguire tumble embarrassingly looking for a pen. Behave Harry.”