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Harry Maguire has spoken; Manchester United will be selling a number of first team players this summer
Harry Maguire has laid bare Manchester United’s summer transfer plans, which are about to get messy.
After the club’s worst season in Premier League history and a humbling pre-season tour in Asia, the England defender believes a major clear-out is not just necessary, but inevitable.
Maguire predicts Manchester United fire sale
In a recent interview, Maguire said, “We will make a lot of changes,” foreshadowing a brutal summer of exits at Old Trafford.
The 1-0 loss to the ASEAN All-Stars was an embarrassment and the final nail in the coffin for several underperforming players.
Manchester United’s dismal form has exposed deep cracks in the squad, and new manager Ruben Amorim is expected to start rebuilding from the ground up. Names already confirmed to be heading out include Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, and Jonny Evans, all set to leave when their contracts expire.
However, that is just the start. Amorim’s tactical system rarely utilises traditional wingers, which puts the futures of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony on extremely thin ice.
And while Garnacho may be the most high-profile young talent, he’s reportedly been told by Amorim to “pray that you can find a club to sign you.”
Bruno Fernandes not spared in potential mass exits
There’s now a very real sense that the dressing room could be almost unrecognisable by the time the new campaign kicks off, and while Maguire said he is hopeful for “a lot of players to come in,” with the club’s financial hands tied, that hinges entirely on who they can ship out first.
The failure to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, thanks to that Europa League final defeat to Tottenham, has cost the club an estimated £100 million in potential revenue.
Even talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes, arguably the club’s most consistent performer, is being seriously considered for a sale. The Portuguese midfielder is being courted by Saudi giants Al-Hilal, who have offered a mind-blowing three-year deal worth close to £200 million, including a tax-free weekly wage of £700,000.
Despite repeated insistence from inside the club that they don’t want to sell Fernandes, the pressure is mounting. A £100 million offer is likely on the table, and with financial fair play constraints tightening their grip, United may have no choice but to let go of their prized asset.
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