Sales are needed this summer
Sales are needed this summer
Manchester United's list of record sales makes for pretty grim reading.
The top 10 is about as eclectic a list as you could wish to see, ranging from Morgan Schneiderlin to David Beckham, from Dan James to Jaap Stam. It's really not a good look.
Things need to change at United and they know it. Steps forward have certainly been made in recent years, with the club looking to follow the lead of their rivals in inserting sell-on clauses into deals that ensure they will profit if those who leave Old Trafford go on to thrive elsewhere.
But the initial fees received when players are sold remain a problem.
have only ever broken the £30million barrier with three sales. When you consider cross-city rivals Manchester City have done so nine times in the last six years alone, it's not difficult to see where some of United's problems lie.
Selling players for the right price hasn't been United's strong suit, but it's something they need to put right if they're to provide Ruben Amorim with the tools he needs to succeed at Old Trafford.
This summer represents a huge challenge, with the club actively looking to sell a number of players who should fetch handsome fees.
Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho are all on United's list of priority sales. Rashford's stock may have fallen but that doesn't mean he should be sold on the cheap. Antony's time at United has been nothing short of a disaster but he has created a market for himself with an impressive loan spell with Real Betis, yet it's the sale of Garnacho that will truly test whether United have changed.
Having just turned 21, best years are clearly ahead of him. He is an Argentina international who has already made nearly 150 appearances for United, scoring 26 goals in all competitions. His fallout with Amorim undoubtedly weakens United's hand, but the club are well within their rights to demand more than the £40m they rejected from Napoli back in January.
Only two players have ever left United for more than £50m: Romelu Lukaku (£73.9million to Inter Milan in 2019) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m to Real Madrid in 2009).
If that list of players hasn't increased by one by September 1 then something has gone seriously wrong.
Another squad rebuild is needed at United but if they can't sell players for the right price then they're never going to get to where they want to be.
Garnacho's United career is over but that doesn't mean he can't be a success elsewhere. United need to remember that when entering discussions with potential suitors.
If Garnacho leaves for less than £50m then United have been taken for a ride.
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