Manchester United are planning a summer rebuild with eight senior players expected to leave Old Trafford, with the club likely to earn more than £100m.
United currently sit third in the Premier League with seven games in hand. If they return to the Champions League next season, they will earn around £16m for making it to the group stage, but that figure could rise significantly depending on their performance, meaning English clubs will earn at least £40m for reaching the last 16 this season.
But attention will also turn to a potential departure as United prepare for a crucial transfer window as they rebuild their squad for next season.
Five senior players – Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hjylund and Marcus Rashford – are expected to leave the club permanently this summer, with three others set to leave when their contracts expire.
Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona, with a permanent transfer option worth £26 million in the summer.
Sky Sports News understands that Barcelona’s priority is to retain him beyond this season, but that they will hold internal discussions on how to proceed in the coming weeks.
Will Rashford (left) remain at Barça next season?
They could either pay him £26m or consider renegotiating, but United have no interest in renegotiating his fee and Sky Sports News understands they believe he could be sold for a higher fee elsewhere.
If Barcelona are not prepared to pay the option, Rashford will return to Carrington, but that does not mean the club plans to reunite with the striker.
Sources have told Sky Sports News that the player, his agent and the club will continue to work to secure a permanent move from Old Trafford.
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Rashford has bounced back to form at Barça, scoring 23 goals for Catalonia this season and could play a role for England at this summer’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, Napoli are close to qualifying for the Champions League, and United are also set to pay a hefty fee for Hojlund. The Dane is currently on a season-long loan at Napoli and will be subject to a £38m buyout if the Italian secures a spot in Europe’s top club competition next season. Napoli currently sit in third place, five points behind Cesc Fabregas’ Como.
Elsewhere, Ugarte and Zirksee have had limited game time this season and as a result both are likely to leave Old Trafford, while Onana’s future at United is in serious doubt after Senne Lamence’s impressive debut season as the club’s new number one, with the Cameroon international currently on a season-long loan at Trabzonspor in Turkey.
Joshua Zirkzee is one of a number of players who could leave Manchester United this summer
However, all three players are still expected to attract interest from across Europe, with United hoping for big fees for the trio, with Serie A clubs particularly interested in Zirksee’s return to Italy.
Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malasia’s contracts all expire in the summer, which will also create significant wage room to reinvest into the team.
Manchester United will not reverse their decision to let Casemiro go this summer
The club have no intention of reversing their decision to let Casemiro go as they plan their future. And as reported by Sky Sports News last week, midfield remains United’s priority for reinvestment, while the club are also considering left winger and left-back as positions of interest.
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Who are Manchester United targeting this summer?
Lewis Hall, Yann Diomande and Iliman Ndiaye are among the players United are looking to strengthen ahead of their return to European competition next season, write Vic Varange and Danial Khan.
An ideal summer window would include signing at least two midfielders, but Brighton’s Carlos Baleva remains a target after a move to Old Trafford failed to materialize last summer, while Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson is also high on United’s list of targets.
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As previously reported, Wolves’ Joao Gomez is another potential target and could be a cheaper option to strengthen Wolves, who are likely to be relegated. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is also a name under consideration.
RB Leipzig forward Diomande is high on United’s list of left-wing targets ahead of the summer transfer window. He fits the profile of a right-handed left winger and, at just 19 years old, has huge potential.
Meanwhile, Everton’s Ndiaye is also a player United are keeping an eye on in this position. The 26-year-old continued his impressive season under manager David Moyes by scoring in Everton’s match against Chelsea before the international break.
Lewis Hall (centre) could be a Manchester United target this summer
The club is interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Braun as a full-back. The 22-year-old German international has scored four goals and provided four assists in the Bundesliga this season.
Newcastle’s Hall is also on their radar after an impressive season that saw him take part in Thomas Tuchel’s final England camp ahead of the World Cup.
