Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has rejected the idea the club has to sell its academy stars as the Reds are “not that far down the line” in terms of financial troubles.
The acute pressure of the Premier League’s profits and sustainability rules (PSR) has reportedly led to Old Trafford officials being “reluctantly” open to the sale Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo – two players considered “untouchables” last season.
Academy graduates constitute a treasure trove from a PSR perspective as there is no transfer fee to offset against their potential sale. This means the money generated counts as ‘pure profit’ on a club’s balance sheet.
And it’s this reasoning why United sanctioned the departure of Scott McTominay – who entered the club’s youth system as a five-year-old – in the summer, despite Erik ten Hag’s objection to his sale. The £25.7 million fee Napoli agreed to pay for the Scottish international enabled United to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte as a replacement for nearly twice the price.
Ruben Amorim, who replaced Ten Hag in November, has seen his new side struggle to adapt to the 3-4-3 system which helped him dominate Portuguese football with Sporting CP.
Reinforcements are needed in the wing-back, centre-forward and central midfield areas to help the 39-year-old coach, though United have agreed a deal worth an initial £25 million move for Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu to solve the first position.
This outlay means finances will be even tighter heading into the final week of the January window, however. And the obvious issue of a need for investment in the middle of the pitch and, in particular, the forward line remains.
But Brown, who enjoyed a successful 15-year career at Old Trafford during the club’s most successful period, refutes the idea it should be a talent like Garnacho or Mainoo who funds this.
Both youngsters have been linked with moves to Premier League rival Chelsea, while Garnacho is also attracting attention from Serie A leaders Napoli. The Italian side are in the hunt for a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who swapped Italy for France to join Paris Saint-Germain in a 70 million move earlier this month.
However, speaking in an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person, courtesy of NewBettingSites.uk, Brown said he cannot envision United sanctioning either player’s departure, especially to a direct rival: “Listen, I can’t see it happening.”
The former defender contends it would be a “big disappointment” if Garnacho was sold to Chelsea after the 20-year-old had regained his place in the United first-team after being dropped by Amorim for the Manchester Derby in December.
“[Garnacho] is a player the manager had to have word with when he first came in, but obviously they have got their differences sorted out now. He’s started the last two, played very well in the first one after coming back in, and showing his old self a little bit,” Brown states.
The 45-year-old believes the number of first-team opportunities being afforded to Garnacho over the past twelve months mean the Argentinian international should not be looking to leave for his own personal development. “He’s in the team, it’s not like he’s playing on a regular basis. So I just can’t see that happening.”
“Do Chelsea even need another winger?”, Brown observes in a half satirical, half-serious tone – a question Garnacho should ponder himself before considering a switch to Stamford Bridge, given the stacked nature of the Blues’ forward line.
“You don’t want to sell your best players to rivals. I heard [rumours of] Kobbie to Chelsea? Just no, I can’t see it.”
Brown concedes “you could understand” a sale of either youngster “if it 100% had to be done”, but the 2008 Champions League winner is confident United have not reached this point: “I don’t think we’re that far down the line.”
United fans will be hoping their former star’s assessment of the situation at Old Trafford holds true as the prospect of either Garnacho or Mainoo switching a red shirt for a blue one would be gut-wrenching for a club which prides itself on its academy stars.
Featured image by Gareth Copley via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
