Manchester United have splashed over £150million in three new signings this summer but Erik ten Hag needs to offload to create funds and room for more incomings
Erik ten Hag is ready to green light the departures of four Manchester United players in an attempt to raise funds for new arrivals.
The Red Devils have signed Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund for a combined figure of over £150million so far this summer, and although Ten Hag said last weekend he was happy with his squad, he could be tempted to dip back into the transfer market. But the Dutchman would have to sell first, with several players staring at the Old Trafford exit door after falling down the pecking order.
Fred is the latest to be heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford after Fulham revived talks to sign the Brazilian for £20m, as per the Daily Mail. The 30-year-old made just 11 Premier League starts last season and Mount’s arrival, alongside Christian Eriksen’s return to full fitness, should only decrease Fred’s game time.
Fulham are keen to add another midfielder to their squad following an unfortunate shoulder injury to Joao Palhinha while in the United States. The Cottagers have a long-standing interest in the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk man but are set to ramp up their pursuit heading into the final three weeks of the window.
Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay are also likely to be sold by the Red Devils. None of the three, like Fred, have established themselves in the United side since Ten Hag’s arrival in May 2022 and are therefore set to be sacrificed to pave the way for new recruits.
West Ham are expected to land Maguire in a deal worth around £30m. The Hammers have reached an agreement in principle to sign the England international, who has fallen down to fourth-choice centre-back at United behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof.
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David Moyes is desperate to strengthen his squad going into the new Premier League season and Maguire is someone he has earmarked to bolster the back-line. Maguire isn’t the only United player Moyes has targeted, meanwhile, with McTominay also on his shopping list.
The Hammers lodged a £30m bid to sign McTominay earlier this week, however, the proposal was rejected by the Red Devils, who are hoping to hold out for £45m. West Ham may not make another offer with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse both now set to join, although several other clubs have been linked with McTominay.
Van de Beek is also expected to depart, with United in talks with Real Sociedad over a permanent deal for the Netherlands international. The 26-year-old has struggled since his £40m move from Ajax three years ago, and despite impressing in pre-season, he is surplus to requirements.
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