Manchester United have already spent over £130m this summer, bringing in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to bolster their ailing attack, but are yet to raise a penny through player sales.
Marcus Rashford departed on loan to Barcelona earlier this month and the removal of his wages from the books at Old Trafford is a boost, but permanent departures for decent fees are needed to raise funds to continue the summer overhaul.
With the Red Devils eyeing big-money moves for the likes of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, some current United stars will have to be sacrificed to secure cash to reinvest.
Likely departures
Ruben Amorim’s squad is starting to take shape during the close season, specifically in terms of who has not made the trip across the pond to the USA.
Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia have all been left out and are all known to be seeking a way out of Old Trafford. United chiefs are thought to be working hard to secure permanent transfers for these players, with Antony linked with a surprise move to Al-Nassr and Bayern Munich recently enquiring for Alejandro Garnacho.
It would be a surprise to see any of these players working under Amorim next season, but at a time when cash is famously tight at United the list of potential departees is certainly not limited to just those four.
Mainoo linked with exit
Talented youngster Kobbie Mainoo was immense under Erik ten Hag but slipped down the pecking order under his Portuguese replacement, not helped by injury.
The 20-year-old was suddenly no longer unsellable, and given his Carrington background and huge potential instead became a valuable asset which could be sold for the right price.
Strong interest from Chelsea in January amounted to nothing and Mainoo looked set to stay put after all, but fans were given another scare last week with the news that Tottenham Hotspur were interested in the England international.
United plan to keep their midfielder
But according to GIVEMESPORT sources United “are not looking to sell” the player who was the subject of “informal enquiries” from Spurs.
In fact, the report claims, Mainoo is doing everything he can to earn “a prominent role” under Amorim rather than find a fresh challenge elsewhere, and wants to impress at United to put himself in the frame for next year’s World Cup. Spurs are said to have looked to Mainoo as an alternative to Morgan Gibbs-White, but were rebuffed with United “not seeking to do business even though it is not a given that he will be a regular starter under Amorim”.
The youngster, who United have previously valued at £70m, did in fact start in United’s recent pre-season clash with West Ham United and looked accomplished in a midfield pivot alongside Manuel Ugarte.
And while competition for places is set to be fierce at Old Trafford next season with no European football reducing the number of games, Mainoo can still expect plenty of opportunities as it is “intended that he will still be in his current surroundings by the time the summer transfer window slams shut on September 1.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
