Man United to target players with expiring contracts – source،
Manchester United are targeting players entering the final year of their contracts this summer as part of the rebuild under new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a source has told ESPN.
United have money to spend in the summer transfer window despite concerns over breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
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The club improved its financial situation in January by allowing a number of players, including Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho, to leave Old Traffford. Many young players have also left, including Facundo Pellistri, Hannibal Mejbri and Álvaro Fernández, while on-loan defender Sergio Reguilón had his temporary stay cut short.
Despite what the club sees as a positive January window, a source told ESPN that finances remain “strained” and that targeting players nearing the end of their contracts is seen as a good way to manage their summer spending.
This is one of the reasons why Mason Mount became such an attractive prospect last summer, with United having been informed before negotiations that he would not be signing a new deal at Chelsea.
The west London club decided to facilitate Mount's departure rather than risk losing the England midfielder for free a year later.
United are exploring a number of similar deals ahead of this summer with players such as Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan David and Khephren Thuram all expected to be out of contract in 2025.
Manchester City are also among a host of other clubs to have expressed an interest in Germany international Kimmich, who will enter the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
Bayern defender Alphonso Davies is also set to enter the final year of his contract this summer, but sources have told ESPN that Real Madrid would be his first choice if he decides to leave the Allianz Arena.
Ratcliffe and his INEOS team hope to appoint a new director of football in the coming weeks, but planning for the summer window has already begun. Confirmation of Ratcliffe's 25% stake is expected by mid-February.
