Source: Utd plan outgoings to fund team overhaul
Manchester United are encouraging offers for a number of senior players to fund further transfer business this summer, a source has told ESPN.
United have made two key signings already, bringing in striker Joshua Zirkzee and centre-back Leny Yoro.
The pair, brought in for a combined £88 million ($113.6m), have arrived at Old Trafford to replace Anthony Martial and Raphaël Varane. But manager Erik ten Hag is also keen to sign a central midfielder, another centre-back and a right-back.
Yoro revealed on Monday that United legend Rio Ferdinand contributed to his decision to join the club, saying he spoke to the 45-year-old two weeks before joining.
“We spoke for 10 minutes about Man United, so he helped me a lot to make my choice,” Yoro said in an interview published on the club’s website.
“He mainly spoke about the club and what it’s like. That this is a historic club with a big story, and if I go there I need to fight for the club, to be ready, because this is the biggest club in the world.”
United still have still interest in Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, although the two clubs are still apart in their valuations, and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
The permanent departure of Mason Greenwood to Marseille for a fee which could rise to £26.6m has boosted funds, but a source has told ESPN the club are also keen to move on other first-team players.
A source has told ESPN that a large portion of Greenwood’s fee is made up of performance-related add-ons.
United will consider offers for Victor Lindelöf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Christian Eriksen, who all have one year left on their contracts.
Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Antony and Jadon Sancho would also be available if United’s valuations are met.
Sancho has been reintegrated into the squad following his public fall-out with Ten Hag and started the preseason friendly against Rangers on Saturday.
United have been asking for around £40m for the 24-year-old, who has been linked with PSG, and would still consider offers in that region.
Sources told ESPN that Sancho was offered to PSG among other clubs and the player is being considered by the hierarchy in the French capital as he suits the profile of player they are looking for following Kylian Mbappé‘s departure.
United want a permanent deal for the winger, as opposed to a loan move like the one to Borussia Dortmund last season, the sources said. PSG are also considering AC Milan‘s Rafael Leão, Athletic Club‘s Nico Williams, and Napoli‘s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, though all three have high price tags.
The sources added that reports linking Bruno Fernandes with a move to PSG were overstated, and noted that it would take a huge offer for United to allow their club captain to leave.
Rasmus Højlund and Eriksen both returned to training on Monday after playing for Denmark at Euro 2024. Marcus Rashford has also returned after missing the 2-0 win over Rangers because of injury.
United will train at Carrington on Tuesday before flying to LA for the start of their U.S. tour on Wednesday. Ten Hag’s team face Arsenal at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
