Manchester United have ambitious transfer plans this season with Ole Gunnar Solskjær now looking to put a foot on the accelerator and make his mark on the team. The COVID-19 pandemic has ensured that the teams across the world suffer financially and the Red Devils have been no exception. The financial stringency means that United need to sell a few of their players to free up funds so that they can pursue their transfer targets.
Evening Standard are now reporting that the board has decided to sell some of their players on loan at other clubs to garner some much needed revenue. We take a look at three such players the club are looking to offload, according to the report, and come to a conclusion about whether they are making the right decision.
Alexis Sanchez
The former Barcelona man moved to Inter Milan on loan last summer, and it can be safely said that the Manchester club need to get him off their wage books desperately. The Chile forward has not been able to replicate his form at Manchester United, and the big-money move that he made under the insistence of Jose Mourinho has not worked out for either party. Finding no other alternatives, the club decided to loan him off to Inter and even that has gone pathetically.
Unable to cement his place in Italy, Sanchez has featured only nine times for the side, scoring only once. Conte would certainly not be interested in keeping him beyond this season, and the responsibility of finding a new suitor for the former Barca man could fall upon Ed Woodward. The supporters would like to hope that United can move him to a new club so that their wage bill massively comes down.
Chris Smalling
The England international joined Man United in 2010 and till last season had featured regularly for the club in defence. His performance gradually deteriorated, and the club had no other option but to send him on loan to AS Roma. Playing for the Serie A side has suddenly improved the defensive ace’s figures, and this season he has featured 21 times for his team.
What is more breathtaking is the fact that Smalling has made 4.5 clearances per match and completed 90.3% of his attempted passes. Harry Maguire joined from Leicester last summer and has since been the first choice for the centre-back position. However, Victor Lindelof has been inconsistent in his form, and unless the club can rope in someone like Koulibaly this summer, there should be room for Smalling in the side.
Marcos Rojo
The Argentine joined the Mancunian club in 2014, and till his departure to Estudiantes in the recent winter transfer window, he had played only 76 league games for the side. A centre-back by trade, Rojo can also step in on the left side of the defence. But his versatility had not made him a guaranteed starter at any time, and now with a host of players in his favourite positions, the 30-year-old’s name would hardly be in the team-sheet anymore. If United can find a suitable club for him, they should immediately look to cash in on the defender.
Stats from Whoscored.
