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With two signings already in the bag, Manchester United will now need to focus on player sales before they can resume their recruitment spree.
It was widely reported that United’s meagre starting budget would need to be supplemented with money raised through player outgoings with INEOS plotting a massive summer clearout.
Big-name stars were not exempt from this cull as Raphael Varane was let go along with Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek and academy graduate Willy Kambwala.
One player who is attracting plenty of interest is Aaron Wan-Bissaka whose contract with the Red Devils expires next summer after the club triggered the one-year extension option.
Wan-Bissaka to West Ham not close
It was done to protect his market value ahead of a summer sale with plenty of interest from within the English top-flight as well as from abroad.
West Ham United were named as one of the suitors with the player open to moving to the Hammers while his agent desperately tried to secure his client a move back to London.
⚒️ Rumors about Aaron Wan-Bissaka and West Ham:
Currently, the 26 y/o right-back from ManUtd is not a hot topic of interest at #WHUFC. Things could change in this window if #MUFC lower their demands.
Contract valid until 2025. @SkySportDE 🏴🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/bvTD7SbJm3
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 19, 2024
Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed that the full-back is not a priority for Julen Lopetegui’s side at the moment. The 26-year-old’s asking price of £15 million might have something to do with that.
“Rumors about Aaron Wan-Bissaka and West Ham: Currently, the 26 y/o right-back from ManUtd is not a hot topic of interest at #WHUFC. Things could change in this window if #MUFC lower their demands,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
AWB’s future
The former Crystal Palace star started the first pre-season friendly against Rosenborg but he failed to impress Erik ten Hag last season as he regressed with his ability on the ball, not helped by Diogo Dalot’s impressive form and his own injuries.
Galatasaray had failed with an earlier bid for the right-back and have since moved on to other targets. Whether United lower Wan-Bissaka’s asking price remains to be seen.
INEOS have so far been ruthless with their player sales and incomings and that is expected to continue and no team is likely to secure a United star on the cheap, as was the case under the Glazers earlier.
In case the former Eagles star leaves, United will need to secure a versatile full-back in the market and with a tight operating budget, the new co-owners will need to plan out their moves carefully especially as plenty of areas are in urgent need of attention.
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