Manchester United felt forced into the sale of Scott McTominay a year agoManchester United felt forced into the sale of Scott McTominay a year ago
Manchester United felt forced into the sale of Scott McTominay a year ago | Getty Images
Man Utd could be handed a huge boost in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United are always careful when it comes to nurturing young talent. They are well aware that any player associated with the club has a weight of expectation on their shoulders and it can be hard to keep youngster grounded when there is so much excitement around their development.
There is a duty of care to ensure these young adults blossom into the best men they can be, yet they must also expose them to pressure and the responsibilities placed upon them once they reach the first-team frame. There is also a growing acceptance that the academy system is a business.
United were overly cautious in the past when it came to youth talent and reluctant to sell those who had been with them from a young age. It has improved enormously in recent years and they could earn a large windfall from it this summer that would prove priceless in their first-team rebuild.
What a difference a year makes
In a summer when finances are so tight, United need to use their academy as a business more so than ever before to raise funds and help Ruben Amorim in his rebuild. It would be a step towards redemption, a year after the counterintuitive PSR rules forced them into the sale of Scott McTominay, who has since gone on to be a huge success at Napoli.
“I am a little mixed. I am very happy for him but I would prefer not to lose him because he was so important for our team," Erik ten Hag bemoaned when the deal was completed. “He was at Manchester United for over 22 years. But unfortunately, it’s the rules. You have to discuss the rules to do sales. Obviously, homegrown players, academy players, bring more value. It’s not the right thing to do, but for everyone, for all parts, it’s a good deal."
United might have only sold McTominay for £25 million, but he became their sixth-highest sale of all-time and crucially, it was all recognised as profit due to the fact he was an academy product. It is an example that could have a huge impact if they follow it again this summer.
Marcus Rashford is expected to leave the club permanently after his falling out with Amorim, while Alejandro Garnacho has also been told he is free to find a new club. Those sales, along with interest in Bruno Fernandes, should end any prospect of Kobbie Mainoo leaving, though they could also be open to offers for lower profile academy graduates such as Toby Collyer or Dan Gore.
Another aspect to consider is sell-on clauses. United staff have suspected some players are going "stale and sour" if they stay at the club too long without getting an opportunity to play, and it would be better for all parties if they were moved on. In other cases, it is accepted United would be best to move on promising young talent for lower fees than they could demand and are happy for the real value of a deal to be made up with future sell-on fees or buyback clauses. Though the initial fees might look a little underwhelming at times, it only takes one hefty transfer fee to be paid for United to land a significant windfall.
With Real Madrid expected to complete a deal for Alvaro Fernandez Carreras that could earn United roughly £8 million, and interest also shown in Marseille forward Mason Greenwood, who United have a 50 percent sell-on clause for, it could be a very lucrative summer from an academy perspective.
Ten Hag might have hated the rules, but Amorim could learn to love them.
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