Manchester United face major hurdle in Sofyan Amrabat and Benjamin Pavard potential deals

Manchester United are facing major hurdles in potential transfer deals for Sofyan Amrabat and Benjamin Pavard in the final weeks of the summer window.

The Reds have brought in three major signings to boost Erik ten Hag‘s first team this summer – André Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund – and were looking to add another defender and midfielder to the fold.

However, that all depended on outgoings with several United players expected to be axed in order for Ten Hag to get more suitable profiles for his side.

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Fred has recently left the club to join Turkish side Fenerbahçe, yet, the transfer fee came to just £8.6 million upfront, with an additional £4.3 million in add-ons. United were reportedly looking for at least £20 million for the midfielder.

Meanwhile, fellow midfielders Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek remain at the club currently with no clubs looking like taking either at this point in time. Harry Maguire was close to a £30 million move to West Ham but that deal has broken down.

With just over two weeks remaining in the transfer window, additions seem less likely due to the fact that many fringe players who were supposed to be sold are still at Old Trafford and the club have only raised around £40 million in sales at this point.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has stated that the ‘bulk’ of United’s incoming business in the transfer window is now done, with the lack of outgoings being the reason why, however, if sales are made in the closing days of the window it is said an effort to make signings could be made.

“We’ve been told that the bulk of Man Utd’s incoming business is done – Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana – which totals around £170m. I’m also told today that further major additional incomings are looking increasingly difficult now,” he said.

“We brought you the news yesterday that Harry Maguire is increasingly likely to stay at Manchester United now. Maguire and Scott McTominay would have brought in substantial fees but both at the moment are staying put at Old Trafford.

“It then throws doubt into potential deals they could have done for Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard and also Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat. We were told Manchester United were ready to [make] deals for those players provided there were departures from Old Trafford for a significant amount of money.

“Just because they’re not happening at the moment, Manchester United are still interested in those players and if any major deals can still happen departure-wise, we understand that the club would be able to execute one of those deals. But the later we go in the window, it’s going to be increasingly difficult to get big deals done. These big deals, by the nature of transfer business, take a while to do it.

“The interest in those two players is there, they want a central defender and a central midfielder, but there would have to be major departures in those positions to make space in the squad and recoup the money.”

It should be noted that although Liverpool are seemingly closing in on Sofyan Amrabat, they are yet to submit any official offer – and Amrabat would rather join United, according to Alfredo Pedulla.

A deal for Amrabat will likely only be finalised once either Scott McTominay or Donny van de Beek leave the club.