Manchester United were always going to focus on exits rather than arrivals in the January transfer window and that has proved to be the case.
United needed to reduce their wage bill and thin out Erik ten Hag’s squad before the rebuilding process could begin. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS group soon to be confirmed as 25 per cent owners and Omar Berrada arriving as chief executive, that revival could be just around the corner.
While there haven’t been any signings of the ilk of Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer yet this month, United have cleared out Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek, Sergio Reguilon, Hannibal Mejbri, Alvaro Fernandez, Joe Hugill and Mateo Mejia. As you are about to read, they don’t plan on stopping there either.
Saudi Arabia offers £155m exit route
United are reportedly trying to sell Jadon Sancho and Antony to clubs in the Saudi Pro League after admitting defeat with the expensive wingers, who cost £155million between them. Sancho, a £73m signing in 2021, is currently back on loan with Borussia Dortmund, but United want to find a permanent deal for him and believe Saudi Arabia is the most likely destination, according to The Evening Standard.
Al-Ettifaq tried to sign the 23-year-old winger on loan in the summer but refused a £50m obligation to buy. United are undeterred and think they can get £50m for both wingers, despite their rotten form.
Antony cost £86m in 2022 and has struggled for form since arriving from Ajax. Ten Hag is now ready to cut his losses, with fellow highly-paid stars Casemiro and Raphael Varane also on the chopping board this year.
Ten Hag identifies Martial replacement
Ten Hag is a fan of Ajax striker Brian Brobbey and has tried to sign him for United once before, in the summer of 2022. The 21-year-old snubbed him then, but Ten Hag isn’t put off.
Having already signed Lisandro Martinez and Antony from Ajax, the United boss wants to repeat the trick and ESPN reports that Brobbey is viewed as a good replacement for Anthony Martial, who will leave in June when his contract expires.
He has 15 goals and four assists in 26 appearances for Ajax this season and has shone despite their poor form as a team. A move in the January window hasn’t been ruled out, but a summer transfer appears much more likely.
Getafe can’t afford Greenwood
Another player whom United are looking to offload is Mason Greenwood, who is currently out on loan with Getafe. He has been performing well, chipping in with five goals and four assists in 19 appearances in Spain.
However, Getafe are unlikely to be able to sign him permanently when his loan deal expires at the end of the season. Goal reports that Getafe have the third-smallest budget in La Liga, which gives them a maximum wage bill of €40m (£36m). Greenwood is worth at least €40m by himself.
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have both been credited with interest in the forward in recent months. If his decent form continues then a summer transfer to another Spanish club could be on the cards.