In these puzzling days of PSR and pure profit, one Manchester United summer transfer could prove crucial.
Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have spoken of a need to get recruitment right and correct mistakes of windows past where United often spent big for little return. Erik ten Hag’s side must do so against a backdrop of tightening financial rules, the absence of Champions League football and a perception that the Reds have the money to pay over the odds for targets regardless of value.
It adds up to an intriguing summer where United must add new faces within their budget and capitalise on any departures. The Reds have been bad sellers in recent windows, bordering on atrocious, and they must find a better financial formula moving forward if they are to achieve their goals in the transfer market.
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Jadon Sancho, who will be sold at a significant loss, and Mason Greenwood could be the first through the Old Trafford exit door but it’s Scott McTominay who might provide the most significant summer sum.
Sancho and Greenwood have their suitors but the former will likely fetch, at best, half of United’s outlay while the latter has a value ceiling given the clutch of clubs interested. McTominay, meanwhile, has been starring for Scotland at Euro 2024 and could well see his value rise over the coming weeks.
He scored in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland in the group stage and featured prominently again against Hungary on Sunday night as he tried to inspire the Scots to qualify for the last 16. As it was, he picked up a booking in a 1-0 defeat that saw Scotland crash out. However, his role could add a few quid on to a reported £35million valuation.
The Reds were open to selling him a year ago and his showings last season, which yielded 10 goals, should have made potential buyers sit up and take notice. Even without anything over that price tag, as an Academy graduate, a McTominay sale would represent pure profit in the account books and help United raise vital income ahead of another crucial summer.