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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly gearing up for a significant clear-out at Manchester United, with plans to offload players deemed surplus to requirements, potentially raising £100m, starting with Mason Greenwood. This development follows a report by Pete Hall of iPaperSport, which suggests that the sale is anticipated after Ratcliffe’s stake in the club is officially confirmed.
The Ineos chief is set to prioritise a revamp at the board level, but his focus will quickly turn to reshaping the squad. Greenwood is viewed as a prime candidate for a high-value transfer, especially as profits from academy players are considered highly favorable under Financial Fair Play rules.
Greenwood’s situation has stabilised, making a potential transfer less risky now than it was when Getafe showed interest in the past. This calm comes after a period of significant opposition from fans and activist groups.
Beyond Greenwood, as per the report, the club might also part ways with other homegrown talents. Scott McTominay, despite his contributions this season, is seen as expendable. There’s anticipation that West Ham might reignite their interest in the Scottish player. Additionally, academy products Hannibal Mejbri and Alvaro Fernandez, currently out on loan, have clauses in their contracts that could see their moves become permanent.
Further to these potential academy product sales, the report by iPaperSport, citing inside sources, reveals that Manchester United has been exploring transfer opportunities for several high-profile players to clubs in Saudi Arabia. This was following a visit by United’s football director John Murtough to the region during the Club World Cup in December. Among those mentioned are Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Antony, though no official offers have been made yet.
This strategy of offloading high earners aligns with the new management’s approach to economising the club’s finances. The move stands in contrast to United’s recent struggles in generating substantial income from player sales, a feat achieved by other clubs like Manchester City, Brighton, and Liverpool with their young talents.
According to Pete Hall’s report, if the new United leadership succeeds in garnering around £200m from these sales, it could mark the beginning of a significant transformation under the guidance of Ineos and Ratcliffe.
