-Credit:2024 Visionhaus
Manchester United’s efforts to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules could force them to sell one of their homegrown players. Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are two most-valued academy graduates and could be sold.
United spent £205million in the summer transfer window with five signings but managed to raise just £85m through player sales. 12 months prior to that, over £165m was spent with under £50m brought in.
As per reports over the last 24 hours, United are not looking to sanction the exit of either Mainoo or Garnacho. But the reality is, the exact same one that Aston Villa, Leicester City, Wolves and Newcastle have experienced, the situation of PSR means suitable offers for once untouchable players could now sway their judgement.
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Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe will take the brunt of the criticism for this. Selling two players who hold enormous value in the transfer market and love the club dearly is not a popular one within the fanbase.
The main problem United have, especially with Mainoo, is that they are yet to offer him the terms he wants. MEN Sport understands the England international has been left unhappy with the initial terms included in a new deal.
Reports that came out on Tuesday afternoon claimed that Mainoo is believed to want a new deal that is proportionally greater than his reported £20,000-per-week contract. The Daily Mail claim the midfielder wants around £200,000-per-week, including a bonus, after establishing himself as a first-team starter and England international.
United’s wage bill has become a problem over the years with the huge wages offered to players. According to Sportrac, there are 24 players earning more than Mainoo – including 10 with fewer appearances than the 19-year-old.
Man United’s midfield has been slammed this year with Casemiro struggling -Credit:Getty Images
Casemiro’s £375,000-per-week wage has been a problem since he arrived, hence why United have attempted to offload him countless times. Marcus Rashford earns a reported £315,000-per-week and Antony brings in £200,00-per-week.
Under Ineos’ stewardship, the cost-cutting methods have been implemented throughout the club. One of the methods being prioritised is the wages within the playing squad. News of a potential exit for Mainoo, amid uncertainty on agreeing on a new deal, has not gone down well but United fans shouldn’t be surprised by their view on wages.
Omar Berrada, who joined United from Manchester City in January 2024, has previously warned of what can happen if the wrong decisions are made in negotiations with clubs, players and agents. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said: “If you have a very solid rationale as to why you’re offering the fee, the salary and the commission, they might not agree with it but they will accept it.
“Once you start overpaying then you lose that argument and that puts you in a much more difficult position to say to the next one, ‘I can only offer you this.'”
Since Berrada officially started at Old Trafford, only Bruno Fernandes has received a significant wage with a new contract. However, all five of United’s summer signings supposedly earn over £100,000-per-week.