An expected summer of heavy spending will have to be financed somehow, and there is only so far that those Ineos millions will go. As such, with Financial Fair Play limitations proving to be a rather substantial problem for Manchester United in recent transfer windows, you can expect a number of high-profile departures to go hand-in-hand with a healthy collection of acquisitions.
According to reports which emerged this week, only ten members of Erik ten Hag’s squad are all-but guaranteed a place at Old Trafford beyond the September deadline.
And those who may end up staying put may have to accept a reduction in their salary if they are keen to play a role in the Ineos rebuild.
Four of the more long-serving members of this Manchester United roster are due to become free-agents in the summer of 2025 as things stand. This means that either United will probably look to cash in this year, if new terms cannot be agreed, rather than risk losing the quartet for nothing later down the line.
The ball, then, is very much in the player’s court. ESPN report that Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire may all be flogged unless they are willing to put pen to paper on a re-negotiated – and less lucrative – contract.
Big decisions needed for Manchester United quartet
To put it simply, either you take a pay cut, or you pack your bags. It is believed that the quartet set United back nearly half a million a week combined, with their wages totalling £460,000 every seven days.
McTominay is allegedly the least-well paid of the four, but arguably the most valuable.
Only Rasmus Hojlund (14) and the in-form Bruno Fernandes (15) have more goals to their name across this term than the Scotland international, McTominay breaking into double figures for the first time in his career with a trademark box-crashing finish against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Maguire is in fine goalscoring form himself. This year also represents centre-halves best return in the final third. Maguire scored against Coventry too, and flicked in an equaliser during the 4-2 comeback win over Sheffield United in midweek.
- READ MORE: Manchester United Player Wages 2023/24
Harry Maguire a man in top form
“I’ll be honest, from knowing Harry Maguire, I have always had full belief he would come through the tough period,” his former Sheffield United and England team-mate Conor Coady told BBC Sport during that Bruno Fernandes-inspired victory at Old Trafford.
“He is a brilliant character and a brilliant football player. The stick he has took at this football club is unbelievable!”
United will hope to build on that morale-boosting victory against Sheffield United’s fellow relegation battlers Burnley on Saturday.