Rashford, Sancho and Others Man Utd Can Sell to Free Up Wage Bill and Raise Transfer Funds

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe will oversee his first transfer window this summer
• The billionaire has bought a minority stake in Manchester United
• His team will take over football affairs from the Glazer family

Manchester United minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will oversee his first transfer window this summer after buying a 27.7% stake in the club to take over football operations.

The British billionaire is expected to make personnel and structural changes at the club, which begins with revamping the squad, which has grown redundant over the years.

Sofyan Amrabat, Jonny Evans, Anthony Martial, and Tom Heaton will all be out of contract in the summer and will be allowed to leave the club, but some high earners could be sacrificed.

Sports Brief looks at the players who could be used to free up the wage bill and raise transfer funds.

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Players Man United should sell

1. Marcus Rashford

He is the face of the club and signed a new contract last year, but he represents the club's best chance of raising funds this summer. Per Sports Illustrated, his new contract is worth a salary of £78 million over five years. Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly interested, and the Red Devils could demand as much as £75mil.

2. Casemiro

Casemiro’s departure at Man Utd is closer than any other player, spare for those whose contract will be expiring. Per The Guardian, during a visit to the club last year before acquiring his stake, Ratcliffe singled out paying £70mil for the former Real Madrid midfielder as a bad transfer decision. Casemiro earns around £18mil per season and has two years left by the end of this season.

3. Raphael Varane

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Varane was signed from Real Madrid for £34mil in 2021. His place in the squad becomes increasingly threatened due to fitness issues and enormous wages. If sold this summer, the club will save over £17.6mil of his wages, with his contract set to run out in 2025.

4. Antony

It's hard to tell that Erik ten Hag pushed United to pay his former club, Ajax, £86mil for Antony despite the scouts valuing him at £25mil, as noted by The Athletic. The Brazilian earns £10.4mil per year and has a contract until 2027. The club will have to cut their losses in transfer fees to get rid of him.

5. Victor Lindelof

The Swedish centre-back will have a year left on his contract in June. The club could make him surplus to requirement and recoup a small transfer fee on him while writing off his £6mil per year salary off the wage bill.

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6. Christian Eriksen

United gave the Dane a three-year contract in 2022 after a short-term stay at Brentford following his heart problem at Euro 2020. Per Mirror UK, he has expressed the desire to leave the club and was close to joining Galatasaray in January. He earns over £7mil per year.

7. Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho is on loan at his former club, Borussia Dortmund, but has a contract till 2026 at Old Trafford. He fell out with ten Hag before moving out on loan. He pockets around £18mil per year. Considering his productivity level and high wages, he should be moved on.

United stars want Southgate

Sports Brief also previously reported on United players wanting Gareth Southgate after the English national team manager was reported to be Ratcliffe's choice to replace ten Hag.

The 53-year-old former Middlesbrough manager received a seal of approval from the senior players in the team, some of whom are English internationals who have worked with him.