ESPN wrote an article about Manchester United's summer window.
It is reported that Chelsea has notified Manchester United that they will return Sancho. This led to Manchester United's liquidated damages of £5 million, but that was much lower than the expected transfer fee of £25 million. For Manchester United, which is striving to achieve financial balance, this money is not small, but Manchester United hopes to get full transfer fees and get rid of Sancho. Sancho's return is a nightmare for the club's senior management.
Although summer signings are crucial, it is equally important to deal with players that coach Amorin does not want. Sancho was once thought to be without concern because the agreement with Chelsea stipulates that as long as Chelsea ranks above 14th in the Premier League, Chelsea must sign him permanently for £25 million. However, now 25-year-old Sancho has become one of a series of issues that Sir Ratcliffe and Bellada need to deal with, including Rashford, Anthony and Garnacho, each of which brings different problems.
According to sources, Sancho has no intention of playing for Manchester United again. His contract has one year left and his weekly salary is more than £300,000, which is enough to discourage almost all clubs in the world. According to people familiar with the matter, Sancho's negotiations with Chelsea broke down because he was reluctant to cut his salary sharply. Last summer, Sancho had the opportunity to transfer to Dortmund permanently, and he performed well in his time with Dortmund from 2017 to 2021 and again during his brief loan return in 2024, but ultimately failed to make a journey due to excessive salary requirements.
According to ESPN, West Ham also has some interest in him, but his salary will break the club's salary structure. Therefore, Manchester United may have to approve another loan deal while paying a portion of the salary, or negotiate a settlement of his last year's contract. United have paid for termination in the past, such as the termination of Alexis Sanchez for about £9 million in 2020, but in a summer designed to balance accounts, it would be a major blow. When Maguire wanted to join West Ham by paying liquidated damages in 2023, Manchester United refused.
Rashford's salary is also a problem. Although Sancho's contract is about to expire, Rashford's contract has three years left, with a weekly salary of about £350,000. In January, AC Milan gave up on him because he couldn't afford such a high salary. Aston Villa eventually agreed to loan, but only if Manchester United is willing to bear part of the salary. Considering that Rashford's contract is worth more than £50 million, termination of the contract is not realistic, and the possibility of re-leasing is not ruled out. According to sources, Rashford's current ideal destination is Barcelona, but the Spanish champions are also financially struggling.
Plus Anthony and Garnacho, the two have a longer contract but are considered redundant, and Manchester United still has a lot of work to do. Anthony has performed well on Real Betis on loan, but it is almost impossible for Manchester United to recover the £86 million paid to Ajax in 2022. Garnacho is young and has a lower salary and is easier to transfer. Naples and Chelsea were interested in him in January, but United could be at a disadvantage in transfer fees as the club knew Amorin didn't want him and Garnacho was eager to leave. Manchester United valued him more than £60 million in January, but the offer this summer could be much lower than that number.
It is reported that since taking office in November last year, Amorin has undergone six months of "fire-fighting" work, and he hopes to usher in a new beginning this summer. This means that before heading to the United States for preseason next month, the team needs to prepare for the signing of new players. Cunha's transfer has been completed, and Brentford's Mbemo is also among the introductions. However, this also means that Manchester United needs to send Sancho, Rashford, Anthony and Garnacho away before heading to Chicago on July 22. Otherwise, Amorin will have to face an awkward summer of working with a player he doesn't want.