Multiple Premier League clubs have expressed “interest” in a move for Mason Greenwood but have “shelved plans” at fear of public backlash from signing the former Manchester United forward, according to a report.
Greenwood, 23, left Old Trafford last summer to join Ligue 1 side Marseille in a deal worth £26.6 million, having spent the previous season on loan at Getafe in Spain after off-the-pitch legal issues made a return at United an impossibility.
The move includes a sell-on clause entitling United to 50% of any profits Marseille make from a future transfer – a potential treasure trove for the Red Devils from the perspective of PSR, given Greenwood’s status as an academy player.
The forward has impressed as goal-scorer since arriving at the Stade Vélodrome, scoring 19 times and providing four assists in all competitions. He sits only behind Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Demebele amongst Ligue 1’s top scorers this season.
However, Greenwood’s all-round play has not matched his attacking output, with Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi publicly criticising the 23-year-old’s general performances and standards in training.
A report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed Greenwood was “desperate to return” to the Premier League with an explosive switch to Liverpool even suggested as a potential option.
TEAMtalk contends multiple Premier League clubs – “ranking from mid-table to the top-half” – have “monitored Greenwood, as they believe the forward would “add firepower to their respective squads for a relatively low transfer fee.”
However, the prospect of intense public backlash from signing Greenwood – the type United experienced when attempting to reintegrate the academy star into the first-team squad at Old Trafford in 2023 – has “deterred” these sides from formalising their interest.
“Sources have told TEAMtalk that although several Premier League clubs have privately expressed interest in signing Greenwood, they are deterred by the significant public relations risks stemming from his past. Although the forward has been legally cleared of any wrongdoing, the fallout from the incident still casts a shadow over him.”
The report reveals clubs in England are “convinced” on Greenwood’s ability as a goal-scorer but “believe that signing the former Man Utd forward would be a PR disaster.”
It further adds, “one source has noted that even clubs with strong interest have shelved plans after internal discussions, citing the potential for fan protests and sponsor pressure.”
The Saudi Pro League has been mooted as a potential destination for Greenwood with reports suggesting a €90 million bid had been tabled to Marseille.
This would equate to a potential £25 million windfall for United ahead of an important summer at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils seeking to comprehensively overhaul Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad.
While the price a Premier League club may have been willing to pay for Greenwood would not match that of Saudi Arabia, it would still have provided a much-needed cash injection for United. But it appears a non-starter, despite active interest from England, as the potential ramifications off the pitch negate any positive impact the 23-year-old would have on it.
Feature image Miguel Medina 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.
