While Manchester United is looking for potential new recruits to ensure that they are in good health before returning to the Champions League, the club must also remove some of the fat from their squad.
The Red Devils are expected to spend this summer building a squad that can challenge on multiple fronts. However, their market power can be increased if they receive additional funds for players who cannot play an obvious role in the long run.
Here you will find the latest information on the pros and cons, including a potential exit for one of United’s many borrowers and an update to a long-term goal.
United has set the deadline for Roma to meet Smalling’s price
(Image: action images via Reuters)
Chris Smalling is a forgotten man at Old Trafford who borrowed the 2019/20 season from Roma, but the central defender has impressed enough in Italy to speak of a permanent change.
However, the main sticking point seems to be United’s assessment of the former Fulham man: According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), they want 21 million euros for smalling and no deal before Monday would see the defender return to Manchester and the rest of Roma’s Europe Suspend league run.
Monday is the deadline for clubs to name their cadres for the resumption of European competition, and clubs can update their cadres as long as the players mentioned could play for them before February 3 (via uefa.com).
This means that borrowers whose moves are now permanent are eligible, but summer signatures are not.
According to reports in Italy, the Roma estimate the England international at 15 million euros and have six days to find the additional 6 million euros to meet the United price.
“Contact Established” via PSG’s Gueye
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
According to reports in France, Manchester United contacted Paris Saint-Germain through midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
The former Everton and Aston Villa midfielder switched to PSG last summer for £ 30m and started 19 times when Thomas Tuchel’s team retained his title.
However, as some side players are offered for sale by the Parisians, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team is reportedly very keen to test the water.
According to Le10Sport, United has inquired about the Express after the Senegal international, who is also on the radar of the wolves.
However, Gueye said recently in talks with PSG sports director Leonardo that “there was never a question of departure or transfer.” So something would have to change for a United move to be a realistic option.
The Red Devils signed a contract extension to defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic earlier this month, while midfielder Fred and Scott McTominay are both under contract until at least 2023.
Grealish “has heart set on Old Trafford”
(Image: PA)
Manchester United’s goal, Jack Grealish, continues to strive to move to the club after helping Aston Villa maintain its Premier League status.
According to former United striker Michael Owen, who told Premier League Productions: “I have been told that he has Manchester United at heart. I would be surprised if he went somewhere else.”
Owen added: “It would have been an easier decision if they had gone under. You can’t let someone play in the championship like that.
“He is a top player, he would fit a lot of teams. It is exceptional. “
Grealish scored 10 goals this season, the best return of his career, and rounded the season off with a goal at West Ham that secured the Villans 17th place.
The villa’s owner, Nassef Sawiris, has reportedly set a price of £ 80m for the club captain, who is under contract until 2023.
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