A raft of sales will put the new Manchester United manager in a prime position to spend in the summer transfer window
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford pictured together during Manchester United's summer tour in 2024
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford both appear bound to leave Man United this summer(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Another transfer window of change is on the horizon for Manchester United after they made huge progress in recent months. And there are a slew of senior departures in the pipeline that could raise upwards of £100million, ready for reinvestment.
A heavy summer spend of a little more than £200m last year may have left the club's coffers somewhat light. However, United could raise their most significant surplus through sales in some years, as eight or more first-team members could depart.
Among those, the moves looking most certain at this point are the free departures of Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia. Brazil ace Casemiro has already confirmed he's bound for the exit despite being a treasured starter.
Sancho is highly unlikely to get a new deal after his loan at Aston Villa is up, while left-back Malacia has also failed to kick on since he spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV. As such, his four-year experiment looks likely to conclude after making just 10 senior appearances for United across the last three campaigns.
While Michael Carrick, or whoever gets the permanent coaching job, may be sad to see Casemiro go, his exit in particular does yield some net positives. Namely, the fact that his £350,000-a-week wages will free up a huge amount of space on the salary cap and allow for another headline name to join.
The same is true for Sancho, who is still having 20 per cent of his almost £250,000-a-week salary covered by United while he's at Villa Park. It's a similar case for £300,000-a-week earner Marcus Rashford, though United are banking on a much greater return once his loan at Barcelona concludes in June.
It remains to be seen whether Barca will exercise their £26m option to sign Rashford permanently this summer. However, that could almost work in United's favour, given that another admirer may be willing to pay more than the stipulated amount should he move elsewhere.
The other loan United are hopeful will turn into some considerable change involves Rasmus Hojlund. Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna described the £38m move as "a formality" in December, with Napoli looking likely to meet one condition of the deal by qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United celebrates his goal with Casemiro (left) during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg football match between Manchester United (Man U) and Olympique Lyonnais
Casemiro is heading out the Old Trafford exit this summer, and Manuel Ugarte could be set to follow(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
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The Red Devils may have to work slightly harder to find buyers for the likes of Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana. Ugarte, 24, has failed to justify his £50m price tag since joining United from PSG in 2024, but his age and profile mean he'll have suitors.
Similarly, Zirkzee was coveted by Serie A clubs during the January transfer window. United chose to ward off the interest while Carrick found his feet as interim boss, but the Dutchman's situation at Old Trafford isn't improving.
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Last but not least, Onana's future in Manchester appears to be over following Senne Lammens' rise to become United's No. 1. And despite performing well on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor, all signs suggest United will look to sell the Cameroonian and move on from his chapter once and for all.
Thankfully, an encouraging stint in the Super Lig may work to bring interest in Onana's services back. However, United will have to settle for selling the player for a fraction of his £44m outlay.
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