Manchester United secret contract clause revealed, it could be impacting deals

Manchester United have a rumoured secret clause in some of their contracts and it could be impacting potential exits this summer.

The Reds have made two signings so far this summer but Erik ten Hag’s squad is in desperate need of further additions ahead of the new Premier League season.

Historically, United have not been great at selling players for profit and it was a clear objective for INEOS to improve.

So far, we have seen Mason Greenwood, Willy Kambwala, Alvaro Fernandez and Donny van de Beek sold this summer. Raphaël Varane, Anthony Martial, Omari Forson and Brandon Williams have also left on free transfers.

Yet, the bulk of Ten Hag’s playing squad remains the same. Players like Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelöf looked certain to depart this summer but things are going slower than hoped.

Some interesting information has been shared by Phil Brown on X, with the journalist claiming that those players whose contracts have been extended to protect resale value have negotiated clauses in their contracts.

This supposed clause would give the player half of any fee the club received for them considering they could instead wait out to leave on a free transfer the following summer.

“Unlike previous years, Utd are very willing sellers this summer. They want to bring in more players, they know they need too but selling players with a year to go on their contracts is not that easy or lucrative,” Brown wrote.

“A number of Utd players negotiated a clause in their contract that if the club extended their contract by a year to protect resale value, the player gets half of the fee.

“None of this is INEOS’s fault, they are trying to clean up a mess they inherited but there are many different factors why Utd can’t sell as well as other clubs.”

This is something at least similar to what is holding up Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move to West Ham. A deal that would then allow United to sign Noussair Mazraoui.

Laurie Whitwell has confirmed that Wan-Bissaka would want “financially composated” for going to The Hammers. It was suggested that it is similar to a “loyalty bonus”.

Whether or not the clause previously mentioned is actually in place, it is clearly more difficult for United to sell some of their players. Casemiro’s interest from Saudi Arabia has gone quiet and the wages/fee it would take to sign him makes a sale elsewhere very difficult.

Movement will be needed soon, though. United’s Premier League season starts against Fulham on Friday 16 August at Old Trafford.

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