Rollercoaster Months for Manchester United
The past few months have proven to be quite a rollercoaster for Erik ten Hag and his Manchester United squad. From a disappointing 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on home turf to a bottom-placed finish in the Champions League group, the Red Devils have faced their fair share of challenges.
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Off-Pitch Troubles and Manager-Player Rifts
On and off the pitch, troubles persist for the team, with reports of rifts between the coach and players like Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. This has fueled speculation that some of United’s key players might be eyeing an exit during the upcoming January transfer window.
In this piece, TecnoSports delves into the potential departures from Old Trafford, examining which United stars could be making moves in the coming month. Stay tuned for the latest on the transfer front!
Financial Strain: The £28 Million Gap
Before we dive into the potential player exits at United during the upcoming transfer window, it’s crucial to grasp why the club finds itself in the position of needing to sell. Recent reports highlight that their exit from Europe, finishing fourth in the Champions League group, has created a substantial £28 million gap in their transfer budget.
This budget shortfall is based on the assumption of United reaching the quarter-finals, as is typically budgeted. Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations already constrained the club’s spending last summer, preventing pursuits of high-profile players like Harry Kane and Declan Rice, each valued at over £100 million.
Looking ahead, next summer’s budget is also contingent on revenue earned from European competition, making the current financial setback a concerning development for Ten Hag or whoever is at the helm by then. Even without this setback, United wasn’t expected to be overly active in the January window, given the financial strain from the signings of Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, and Andre Onana.
Urgency to Offload Unwanted Players in January
Now, with the increased urgency to balance the books, there’s added pressure to offload unwanted players in January. One player who stands out in this category within Ten Hag’s squad is the out-of-favor star, Jadon Sancho. The talented winger has been sidelined from the first team since his public dispute with Ten Hag in September. The rift began when the manager claimed Sancho wasn’t putting in enough effort during training. Tensions escalated further after the winger’s refusal to apologize, marking him as a prime candidate for departure. Stay tuned as we closely follow the unfolding dynamics in the January transfer window at Old Trafford.
Jadon Sancho’s Situation and Potential Transfer
Jadon Sancho’s situation at Manchester United has led to a significant financial strain, with the player training on his own at Carrington while still on full pay, costing the club approximately £4 million in wages based on his £275,000-a-week contract terms.
Recent reports from Spain indicate that a surprising transfer swap deal has been proposed, offering Sancho to Barcelona in exchange for former Leeds winger Raphinha. According to Spanish outlet Sport, the 23-year-old winger might be on the verge of ending his Old Trafford purgatory and making a move to Barcelona in January. While this would mean a substantial loss for United, who invested £73 million in Sancho’s acquisition, it could be deemed a necessary decision.
Raphael Varane’s Uncertain Future
Sancho isn’t the only player experiencing discord with Ten Hag, as former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is also navigating a rocky relationship with the coach. Despite being initially hailed as a star recruit when he joined from Real Madrid in 2021, the French World Cup and Champions League winner has fallen out of favor.
The details of Varane’s contract reveal a four-year deal as announced by the club, but closer inspection shows it’s for three years with an option for another 12 months, as reported by The Athletic. United is not reportedly keen on activating that option, potentially allowing Varane to leave as a free agent in the summer, which would raise further questions about the club’s recruitment strategy.
Casemiro’s Potential Move and Varane’s Contract
If the club aims to recover any portion of the £42 million invested in Varane two years ago, they’ll have to consider selling him in the upcoming January transfer window. Likewise, Casemiro, a former Real Madrid player, might be another candidate that the Red Devils consider moving during the winter transfer market.
The Brazilian struggled with form and fitness at the beginning of the season and is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury until after Christmas. There are rumors linking him with a potential move to Saudi Arabia in January, but even if he stays, discussions about his future are likely to take place in the summer.
Donny van de Beek’s Loan Move
On a different note 26 Years Old, Donny van de Beek, who previously excelled at Ajax under Ten Hag’s guidance, has reached a personal agreement to join Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on loan until the end of the season. Despite making only one appearance in the Premier League this season—a brief two-minute cameo against Crystal Palace—speculation about the midfielder’s long-term future at United is now arising.
🚨🔴 EXCLUSIVE: Donny van de Beek to Eintracht Frankfurt, here we go! Verbal agreement now in place.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 15, 2023
🇳🇱 Exclusive details: loan until June — buy option included for €15m potential package, add ons included. It’s NOT mandatory.
Eintracht will also pay #MUFC a loan fee. pic.twitter.com/xniA1NMFRK
Contracts Expiring: Decisions Looming
Beyond Van de Beek, several players might be on their way out in January due to their contracts expiring in the summer. Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Hannibal Mejbri all have contracts ending in 2024, prompting the club to make swift decisions about their futures.
While Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, and Mejbri are unlikely to leave in January and could potentially be offered new contracts before the season concludes, reports suggest that United doesn’t plan to activate the option to extend Anthony Martial’s contract when it expires at the end of the season.
Martial, who signed a five-year deal in 2019 worth £250,000 a week, included a clause allowing United to extend his stay by 12 months. With United hesitating to extend Martial’s deal, a potential January exit for the forward looms, although interested clubs will be aware that he will be available for free in the summer.
Unexpected Stays: Maguire and McTominay
Interestingly, two players who appeared likely to leave the club during the recent summer window are now set to stay after working their way into Ten Hag’s squad. Both Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, who attracted interest from West Ham, were initially expected to exit but ultimately remained with the club.
