Manchester United identify two players as “central” to summer exit plans

Manchester United will centre their plans for summer transfer window exits around two players who seem ever more likely to leave the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have already started making changes at United, with the latest adjustments coming with the announcement of Patrick Stewart and Cliff Baty’s end-of-season departures.

However, on the pitch, an overhaul is expected in the summer transfer window, with reports stating that only a handful of players are exempt from potential exits.

Yet, many players in the squad are unlikely to attract high fees from clubs, so United will need to be smart in their strategy, especially given their need to sell to buy.

Interestingly, according to Sky Sports, United are focusing on selling both Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood because they could receive respectable fees.

The two loanees could generate around £80 million for the club if both are sold for the expected price, and Greenwood’s departure would be considered as pure profit on the balance sheets.

Speaking on the situation, Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy said: “There’s been a question over whether Sancho will return to United, but his preference is to make that loan deal at Borussia Dortmund permanent.

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“We’ve been explaining since the winter window about United’s tight finances, and given their sell-to-buy state, Sancho is actually the player with the most value that they could sell this summer; it’s the likeliest sale they could make.

“He’s valued between £35-40 million, as is Mason Greenwood, and Getafe are trying to talk down that price in order to make Greenwood’s loan permanent. As an academy graduate, he could obviously be banked as pure profit.

“I’ve been told that United’s focus on overhauling their squad will centre around getting good offers for Sancho and Greenwood.

“I think United as well are conscious that they have to be realistic.”