Manchester United transfer meeting “strongly denied” – club struggling with finance problem

On Friday morning, it was claimed that Benfica were interested in signing Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood during the summer transfer window.

Benfica and Manchester United currently have a decent working relationship. They negotiated the loan of Alvaro Fernandez in January, and the move was made permanent this summer, suggesting a healthy negotiating partnership between the two clubs.

Reports from Friday suggested that Benfica were ‘preparing to attack’ for Mason Greenwood this summer, with INEOS keen to offload the 22-year-old in order to raise funds for the summer.

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It was added that Rui Pedro Braz, sporting director of Benfica, travelled to Madrid, where Greenwood was residing while on loan at Getafe last season, to speak with him and his father and inform them Benfica are keen on his signature.

However, a fresh report from O Jogo has strongly denied this claim, stating that Greenwood “does not” feature in Benfica’s plans for next season. O Jogo further explains that “no contact has been developed” between the player and club regarding a transfer.

The report then mentions the links between Greenwood and Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus, which Sport Witness suggests indicates that the Liga Portugal club does not have the “financial strength” to compete with these clubs.

United are looking for around £30-34 million for Greenwood this summer, and with multiple clubs lining themselves up for bids, it looks as if INEOS will be able to generate significant funds from a move this summer.

United are also looking at selling Jadon Sancho, who has spent the second half of the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, to raise further cash.

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