A recent report has identified eight Manchester United players who are likely to be released, with two recent signings, acquired for approximately £130 million, anticipated to leave for lower fees.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, is currently focused on cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford, which has led to his growing unpopularity due to the implementation of several harsh reductions.
The team’s poor performances in recent seasons have exacerbated their financial difficulties, particularly as they lack the revenue from Champions League participation.
New head coach Ruben Amorim faced constraints in making extensive changes to his squad during the January transfer window due to budget limitations, a situation expected to persist into the summer.
To facilitate a significant squad overhaul, the Red Devils must sell surplus players to generate funds, and their troubling position in the lower half of the Premier League standings places most of the squad in jeopardy of being transferred before the next season.
It has been widely reported that the club has few essential players remaining, and The Daily Mail has highlighted eight individuals who are “set” to be released, with Mason Mount and Casemiro likely to be sold at considerably reduced prices.
‘Antony is prospering on loan at Real Betis who are likely to start the bidding at around £25m if they decide to sign the Brazil winger on a permanent basis – well short of the £86m United paid Ajax in the summer of 2022.
The Old Trafford hierarchy are keen to get Casemiro’s £375,000-a-week wages off the books and would accept a drastic reduction on the £70m it cost to sign him from Real Madrid in 2022.
‘Hojlund, meanwhile, is struggling for form and confidence amid a marathon barren run stretching back 20 games without a goal. If United decide to cut their losses, they will get substantially less than the £72m paid to Atalanta last year.’
‘Even taking into account the amortisation (book value, to the rest of us) on their contracts, the club face making a substantial loss.
‘United would listen to offers for practically all their players with £60m Mason Mount another player who would sell for a lot less than he cost. Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton are set to leave as free agents.’
“If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho,” Ratcliffe said.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.”
He added: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.
“We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.
“There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he’s a fantastic footballer.”
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