New Saudi Pro League approach can directly impact three Manchester United players

A new approach from the Saudi Pro League could directly impact three different Manchester United players.

Saudi Arabia has been spoken about as a destination to potentially help United with some of their unwanted players.

After Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr, the league took on some of the biggest names from European football, including Riyad Mahrez, Kalidou Koulibaly and Karim Benzema.

Several top clubs, particularly Chelsea, were able to receive higher-than-expected fees for their players and that aided their financial situation.

United did not utilise that market last season, and now many have encouraged the club to sell to Saudi Arabia to try and receive higher fees.

However, new information from Sky Sports has suggested that it will not be the same situation this summer.

Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy said: “If we look at Saudi Arabia, which was a great market for a lot of Premier League clubs last summer, their blockbuster approach is going to be replaced by a much more sustainable one.

“They want to focus on youth and bringing through their young talents rather than spending headline fees.”

This development could impact the plans for three players at Old Trafford who have been linked with moves to the Saudi Pro League.

Casemiro has been largely linked with a move there, and the Saudi clubs seem like one of the only options that would still pay a substantial fee despite the Brazilian’s large wage packet.

Meanwhile, Casemiro’s teammate for club and country, Antony, has also had links to Saudi Arabia previously, with the club reportedly open to selling the winger, but they do not want to lose too much on their £85 million investment.

It seems unlikely that Antony will have too many suitors, let alone ones that would pay the money that Saudi clubs might have done last summer, for example.

Finally, Raphael Varane has also reported interest from the Saudi Pro League. Although the Frenchman is expected to leave on a free contract at the end of the season anyway, this will certainly impact his own progression.

The defender does not seem like the type of player who would want such a move. He previously mentioned that he’d want to retire at United, Real Madrid, or RC Lens.