Man Utd are set to be busy this summer but they have a few deals they will hope to complete quickly that will give them a good start.
Marcus Rashford
United will hope to sell Marcus Rashford this summer
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The January transfer window went as expected for Manchester United, who resisted the temptation to make any short-term moves for a season that has just 14 games left to run. Maybe there is an element of risk to that, but if the squad stays fit, they have proven recently that the quality is there to secure Champions League football.
Three successive victories under Michael Carrick have moved United into fourth and the gap to Manchester City and Aston Villa has closed. The January gamble will pay off if things continue as they are.
The long-term approach to transfers will set up a busy summer, when an overhaul in midfield will be the priority, but other positions could also be targeted, including left-wing, goalkeeper and possibly defence. Several players will be heading for the exit door.
If United do secure a return to the Champions League, it will provide a significant boost to their revenues after a season without any European football and two early cup exits. A campaign of just 20 fixtures at Old Trafford will hurt the balance sheet, so a guarantee of what should really be at least five extra home games in Europe will be welcome.
That should allow United to be a little more aggressive in the summer window, but their approach could also be dictated by departures and the kind of money made from exits. Casemiro's departure will free up significant room on the wage bill, and if Harry Maguire also leaves, that will be around £550,000-a-week in savings.
Then there are sales and there are three obvious candidates to leave. Andre Onana, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund are all out on loan this season and the latter two have options to make that permanent as well.
Hojlund's deal will see his move to Napoli become permanent for £38million if the reigning Serie A champions qualify for the Champions League, which is touch-and-go at the moment. Even if they don't, they are likely to try to keep him but will look to negotiate the fee.
Barcelona can make Rashford's loan move permanent for £30million but their financial difficulties could yet be an issue. The 28-year-old has been a success at the Nou Camp and wants to stay, while the Catalan giants want to keep him, but there could be some negotiation and for the forward to accept a pay cut.
Onana might be a more difficult deal. There is no option in his last-minute loan move to Trabzonspor, although the 29-year-old has had a solid enough season in Turkey and has hopefully done enough to drum up some interest.
The form of Senne Lammens has made it clear that Onana's days at United are over. He doesn't want to be a back-up goalkeeper, and he is paid too handsomely to fulfil that role as well, so finding a buyer will be the target.
United's aim will be to secure deals for all three first-teamers currently out on loan as soon as possible. In a best-case scenario, there is potentially £100m in sales to be had there, although that might be difficult to pull off.
In a window where United will be looking to strengthen the squad, that could be a substantial bonus, however, and a brilliant start to the window.
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