Manchester United planning to offload SEVEN first XI players to raise funds

Manchester United are looking to raise as much funds as possible ahead of this summer window, with Erik ten Hag’s priorities becoming clear.

Manchester United crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday evening, with an embarrassing 3-0 loss against Sevilla seeing Erik ten Hag‘s squad expose some of their most prominent weaknesses.

With the summer transfer window around the corner, it has been long established that the club’s priority this summer will be a centre-forward, with bringing in a new midfielder a close second.

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However, after David de Gea’s multiple blunders on Thursday evening costing United a place in the Europa League semi-final, many have questioned if the club should be prioritising the signing of a new goalkeeper, too.

United have been reported on multiple occasions to be significant suitors in the signatures for Tottenham’s Harry Kane, with many suggesting that if the English talisman was to leave the North London club this summer, Ten Hag’s XI would be the most likely destination.

They have also been linked to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos.

However, with all of these players being quoted at a price around £80-100m, the club will need to raise funds – and seven high-profile players have been selected to be put up for sale, according to the Daily Mail.

Club captain Harry Maguire headlines a list that includes his defensive partner Victor Lindelof, midfielders Scott McTominay, Fred, and Donny van de Beek, striker Anthony Martial, and right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The total cost of these players’ respective transfer fees is just shy of £300m – although the odds of the club recouping anywhere near this number if all seven players were sold are nigh impossible.

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Further to this, it is claimed that up to 17 players will be allowed to leave this summer when those whos loan deals and contracts expire at the end of this season.

Contracts are up for Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones, while there has been no further decision made on the futures of loanees Marcel Sabitzer, Wout Weghorst, and Jack Butland.

Bayern Munich are said to be happy to let Sabitzer sign for United on a permanent basis for a fee of around £20 million.

Brandon Williams, Anthony Elanga, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly are all likely to leave the club this summer, while a new contract for David de Gea is yet to be agreed upon – although it is claimed that a current offer for a lower salary is on the table for the veteran Spaniard.

How many players Ten Hag is able to bring in this summer will significantly depend on how many players are moved on, and the funds that are subsequently raised from those sold.