Manchester United are reportedly prepared to offload six first-team players in the January transfer window as they look to generate over £80m in sales.
The majority of the summer on the red side of Manchester was focused around bringing adequate recruits to help Erik ten Hag build on Champions League qualification and an EFL Cup success during his first campaign in England.
David de Gea's departure after over a decade at Old Trafford meant that the Red Devils required a new first-choice goalkeeper, with Andre Onana joining from Inter Milan for around £50m.
Ten Hag's side also made the captures of a striker and defensive midfielder a priority ahead of the 2023-24 season, with Rasmus Hojlund and Sofyan Amrabat sealing switches from Atalanta BC and Fiorentina respectively.
However, attentions will turn to processing a number of outgoings from Old Trafford during the upcoming January transfer window, according to Football Insider.
© Reuters
The report claims that the Red Devils will look to offload six first-team stars in the New Year, in order to remain in line with the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules.
It is understood that Man United's hierarchy are hoping to earn upwards of £80m from player sales next month, allowing them to reinvest in Ten Hag's squad for the remainder of the campaign.
Former Real Madrid duo Raphael Varane and Casemiro are said to be among the players who could depart the Red Devils in January, as well as Anthony Martial and Christian Eriksen.
The aforementioned quartet are some of United's highest earners and getting their salaries off the wage bill would seriously improve the club's profit and sustainability outlook.
Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho are also being readied for moves away in the New Year, with the former playing just two minutes of Premier League football this term.
© Reuters
Ex-England international Sancho has not featured for the Red Devils since a public falling out with Ten Hag earlier in the campaign, with the 23-year-old attacker refusing to apologise to his manager.
It is believed that Man United are in contact with the Saudi Pro League, who may wish to take some of the Dutchman's unwanted men from his first-team ranks in the near future.
With the aforementioned Varane and Lisandro Martinez currently sidelined due to injuries, United fielded a centre-back pairing of Jonny Evans and debutant Willy Kambwala for their 2-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
Ten Hag also opted to start 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in the visitors' engine room at the London Stadium, leaving high-profile arrivals such as Amrabat and Van de Beek as unused substitutes.
Carter White
