Manchester United have delayed announcing their decision on Mason Greenwood’s future because they are continuing to consult key stakeholders and want their women’s team players who are still at the World Cup to be part of the process.
Three England players, Mary Earps, Ella Toone and Katie Zelem, remain at the World Cup and that is a major factor in the time being taken. England play their quarter-final on Saturday and if they win they would stay until the weekend of 19-20 August.
United had hoped to make public the decision on whether Greenwood will be allowed to continue at the club before their first Premier League game at home to Wolves on Monday but that ambition has been abandoned. It is understood the executives regard making the correct decision as more important than an arbitrary deadline.
United are consulting stakeholders including major sponsors, the football department and supporters, whose views will be gathered via the fans’ advisory board.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 and in October of that year he was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Greenwood denied all the charges and they were dropped in February.
The 21-year-old has not played for United since January 2022 and has a contract to 2025, with the club having the option to extend for a further year.
Meanwhile, United have agreed a deal in principle with Fenerbahce for the €15m transfer of Fred, subject to the Brazilian’s medical, personal terms being agreed, and international clearance.
The midfielder, who joined United in the summer of 2018 for around £50m and made 213 appearances and scored 14 goals for the club, will fly to Istanbul for his medical on Saturday.
Erik ten Hag has revealed that Rasmus Højlund’s back injury will keep him out for a “few weeks” but insisted he was calm about starting the season without his new £64m striker.
The issue may rule out the 20-year-old, who was signed from Atalanta, for the opening four matches. Arsenal’s visit on 3 September is being targeted for his return.
Ten Hag’s priority this summer was an elite centre-forward. He began the window focusing on Harry Kane before switching to Højlund and was asked whether starting the season without the Dane being fit was bad planning.
“Nothing to do with that,” Ten Hag said. “I am quite calm because [Marcus] Rashford is very good as a striker – we have seen him as a striker – Anthony Martial is available again and then we have Jadon Sancho, who did very well in pre-season [as a false 9], so we constructed a squad and can deal with this. That is the thing, we do not do things overnight.”
