Man United must use the final three weeks of the transfer window to raise funds and reduce the size of the squad and salary bill.
With three weeks left before the transfer window closes, Manchester United are racing against time to shrink their bloated squad.
United, who began their Premier League campaign at home against Wolves on Monday night, have been busy on the transfer front so far this summer, both in terms of cash inflows and outflows. Coach Erik ten Hag has so far added three new faces to his ranks, including striker Rasmus Hojlund, who arrived from Atalanta last weekend.
The Red Devils, excluding those who leave the club at the end of their contracts, have so far let go of eight players, seven of them on permanent contracts. Will Fish, who has joined Hibernian, is on loan.
Although United have made progress in downsizing their squad, offloading Ethan Laird, Alex Telles, Zidane Iqbal and Anthony Elanga, none of the departures have, with due respect, demanded a sum. a game-changing transfer fee for a club the size of United. They need to increase player sales in the next three weeks.
United, although they’ve had to make smart arrangements with their recruitment this summer, remain open to the prospect of adding new faces to Ten Hag’s squad before the bell on September 1. The Reds. want to sign the reserve keeper and centre-back to replace Harry Maguire, who is tipped to join West Ham United, and leave the door open to sign a new defensive midfielder.
However, the prospect of consolidating each of the three aforementioned positions depends on the sale of players. United are desperate to raise funds after investing more than £200m in Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Hojlund, who are all Ten Hag’s main targets.
However, United, who are aiming to build on last season’s third place, do not have the best record of selling players. They have been hoarding players for so long and that has been a major factor in their downfall over the past decade.
However, the departures of a number of young players this summer, who were never likely to break into the first team, stoked hopes that United could finally begin to correct their problems. on the transfer market. However, only at the end of the window can a final judgment be made.
In the first team, except for a generation of young players who can still leave on loan before the market closes, United have seven players who, in a world of deals, need to be squeezed. in September. The players mentioned are Dean Henderson, Eric Bailly, who the club have listed as “must-have” players this summer, Brandon Williams, Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Fred and Maguire.
As things settle, Maguire is the closest to a move, after United reached a preliminary agreement with West Ham United earlier this week to sell the England international. The defender, who was stripped of United’s captaincy last month, will have to pay a fee of around £30m.
One of the other United players of interest to West Ham is McTominay. United, considering selling the midfielder this summer, want a fee of £40m, a valuation the Hammers have yet to reach. Should he leave, the Red Devils have identified Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat as a possible replacement.
Henderson is the last player United want to move, which will come with a substantial fee. Nottingham Forest continue to want him and a return to the City Ground cannot be ruled out at the moment, although he is likely to demand a fee of around £30m. He hasn’t made a single appearance in pre-season and leaving before the transfer window closes would be in the best interest of all.
After Mount’s addition, it’s highly likely that Fred, despite the uncertainties surrounding McTominay’s future, could still leave this summer. Fulham have expressed interest in signing him, as well as clubs abroad. United could pocket between £15m and £20m for him.
Compatriot midfielde Andre Onana, will also be offloaded. Real Sociedad are entering talks to sign him permanently and United are unlikely to object to his departure. His career at Old Trafford is long and the Red Devils will be lucky, despite financial losses, to generate a fee of around £15m.
Bailly and Williams are the last of seven players United must ensure are not registered before the transfer market closes. The first had not played for the club in more than a year and Williams made only one appearance last season.
United need to get the pair off the books and should accept any offers that come their way. They will be very lucky if they win £10 million for both of them.
