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Manchester United risk missing out on another transfer target as they await player sales to help fund their business
One of the biggest issues holding Manchester United back in the summer transfer window is a lack of player sales.
Losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur in May and in turn missing out on Champions League football and the accompanying riches, has proven costly to United’s summer plans.
The Red Devils have enough to finance one or two arrivals before player sales are required to fund further incomings. They have secured a £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are working on a deal for Bryan Mbeumo, with two bids already rejected by Brentford for the player.
United have signed some younger players with Diego Leon costing just £7m while Enzo Kana-Biyik has joined on a free transfer. Both players could see first-team action next season but have not been signed with a view to immediately break into the senior side. Kana-Biyik is poised to head out on loan, so would need to be recalled in January to play for United this campaign.
The Red Devils must sell a number of unwanted players to help further fund their transfer business - and they have just been handed a reprieve with one of their targets still on the market.
Newcastle United have bid rejected for Manchester United target Hugo Ekitike
Manchester World understands Hugo Ekitike is another player of interest to United but they would need his asking price to come down for a deal to be possible. Newcastle United made a club record bid for the striker but Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has shared that has been turned down over payment terms and because other clubs have indicated they will pay more.
He said on X: “Eintracht Frankfurt are understood to have rejected a written offer from Newcastle this morning worth €80 million (£69.3m), mainly due to the payment terms … and Markus Krösche wants more. There are clubs who have already signalled they would be willing to pay more.”
German football writer Constantin Eckner has told BBC Sport that Krösche, who is Frankfurt's sporting director, won’t let Ekitike go for anything below £86m - which is believed to be the player’s release clause.
Manchester United given hope over Ekitike but would need £86m asking price to come down
United have looked to the £59m deal that Manchester City agreed with Frankfurt to sign Omar Marmoush as they consider a deal for Ekitike. Securing a deal for the same price as the Magpies is not out of the question, given Newcastle’s offer is said to have been rejected mainly over payment terms.
The Red Devils will not be able to move forward until they can make a big sale, however, as they look to move the likes of Marcus Rashford, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho on.
Speaking last month, Krosche said of Ekitike’s possible exit: “If the price isn’t right, then he’ll simply stay with us. We don’t have to sell Hugo.”
The Red Devils do need a new striker but could swiftly run out of options if they are unable to raise the relevant funds to go strong into the market.
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