Manchester United have regularly sold young players in recent years and may now face a tough decision on another prospect.
Manchester United have encountered problems with selling players amid first-team struggles at Old Trafford.
United hope to sell the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony this summer, while Alejandro Garnacho has been told to leave.
Firm offers for those four players have been in short supply thus far, with United often struggling to sell first-team players.
Huge wages are often a major factor, alongside United’s lack of success on the pitch in recent seasons.
One way United have raised some money is by selling young players, and another talent may be on the move this summer.
Manchester United's Ethan Williams in action against AZ Alkmaar.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Manchester United’s Ethan Williams attracting European interest
Reporter Ben Jacobs claims that Anderlecht and Club Brugge are both showing an interest in signing United talent Ethan Williams.
Jacobs adds that Williams’ future is ‘open’, suggesting that United may well allow the teenager to leave.
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Williams joined Cheltenham Town on loan for the second half of last season and caught the eye in League Two.
The 19-year-old bagged two goals and two assists in 17 games for Cheltenham and is now a wanted man.
Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn even suggested that Williams could make an impact for United right now; he was simply that good during his loan spell.
United may have struggled last season, but that was still a bold suggestion from Flynn, given the chasm between the Premier League and League Two.
Considerable European interest in Williams means he may well be seen as a player who can have a huge future at a high level.
Ruben Amorim may well overlook Flynn’s suggestion and sell Williams, though, with the wide man’s academy graduate status meaning he would go down as pure profit on the books.
Crucially, Williams has just one year left on his United contract and this could be the perfect time to cash in.
Amorim may be minded to have a closer look at Williams over pre-season, but if a cash offer arrives, United may be prepared to sell.
Understand Ethan Williams is drawing interest from Belgium sides Anderlecht and Club Brugge.
One year left on his #MUFC contract with several clubs impressed by his loan at Cheltenham.
19-year-old’s future is open especially with Matheus Cunha arriving and Bryan Mbeumo talks… pic.twitter.com/ELNw7ChM9a
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 30, 2025
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Manchester United’s recent young sales
The last couple of years have seen United offload so many young players, often with buy-back or sell-on clauses, sometimes both.
2023 saw United offload the likes of Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage, Nathan Bishop, Teden Mengi and Marc Jurado.
Matej Kovar joined Bayer Leverkusen, and Ethan Laird completed a move to Birmingham City, with United deciding to cash in on players who were some way off first-team level.
United repeated the trick in 2024, selling Willy Kambwala, Maxi Oyedele, Will Fish and Hannibal Mejbri to bring in crucial funds.
Sometimes this backfires, with Alvaro Fernandez now set for Real Madrid after being sold by United last year.
The Spaniard has impressed for Benfica and looks poised for a huge transfer to leave United wondering what could have been.
Williams would hope to follow in Fernandez’s footsteps if he makes the move to Belgium, with United now left to consider offloading yet another prospect.