Most of Man Utd’s players ‘for sale’ – including Rashford – as reports claim only three ‘safe’ from INEOS summer overhaul
Manchester United are open to selling most of their first-team squad this summer, according to reports.
The football club are said to be open to bids for most of their players, including England forward Marcus Rashford, who has struggled for form this season.
Only three players are reportedly “off limits” and definitely safe from the axe – youngsters Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho (right) celebrates scoring with Rasmus Hojlund (centre) and Kobbie Mainoo. Pic: Reuters
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of the INEOS conglomerate, completed a deal to buy a 27.7% stake in the club in February. Part of the deal saw him take over control of football operations at Old Trafford from the American Glazer family.
Newspaper reports say United fan Sir Jim and INEOS want to build a new “winning team” around Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund, while looking to add a new central striker, midfielder and central defender in the summer transfer window.
But the team are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League – Europe’s top club football competition – next season, which will limit the club’s income, spending power and appeal to players.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe – a Man Utd fan – wants the club to win the top trophies again. Pic: PA
Could Rashford really leave Man Utd?
Marcus Rashford, 26, is the most high-profile player INEOS are apparently willing to listen to offers for.
French champions and Champions League semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are believed to have shown interest in signing Rashford in the past.
Marcus Rashford had been seen as a homegrown star of the side for years to come. But in the 2023-24 season, he has often been criticised for an apparent lack of effort. Pic: Reuters
PSG’s representatives reportedly sounded out a deal for Rashford two years ago. They are perhaps the only club that could match his £75m valuation.
But a complicating factor for INEOS is that PSG are thought unlikely to make an offer this summer, having since signed other players in similar positions to Rashford.
However, the Parisian club are likely to lose star man Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid at the end of the season, with his contract due to run out. Some media reports suggest they could still target Rashford as a replacement.
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Rashford’s departure is far from a certainty. United have invested heavily in him over the years and have publicly insisted that Rashford is part of their plans for next season and that they believe in him.
In Erik ten Hag’s first season as Man Utd manager, Rashford scored 30 goals in a single campaign for the first time.
This season, however, he has just seven goals in 31 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils.
He has also found himself facing criticism from fans and pundits alike, for an apparent lack of effort in some disappointing United performances.
However, the club do not have a good recent track record of making money from players.
The last time United sold a player for more than £20m was in 2021, when winger Dan James joined Leeds United for £25m.
Erik ten Hag is under pressure as Man Utd manager. Pic: AP
Who else could go?
Even Bruno Fernandes – one of United’s more consistent performers and Ten Hag’s captain – is apparently not guaranteed his place in Manchester, the latest reports claim. But it would take a major offer for the club to sell him, they add.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana and full-back Diogo Dalot are also thought likely to stay.
Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, two of this season’s better players at Old Trafford, are also mentioned as two the club could cash in on this summer. Both nearly left in the summer of 2023.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire. Pic: Reuters
The talk of sales is fuelled by United’s disappointing performance on the pitch impacting their ability to buy new talent.
After spending more than £550m over the last three summers, a failure to qualify for European football is likely to leave the club needing to sell in order to buy.
The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) – also known as Financial Fair Play – are intended to stop clubs from spending more money than they make. Everton and Nottingham Forest have had points deducted in the league this season for rule breaches.
Man Utd are currently sixth in the Premier League with four games to play. They play rivals Man City in the FA Cup final on 25 May.
UK drivers are “confused” by the country’s electric car transition, ministers are being warned.
Although most drivers are not hostile towards electric vehicles (EVs), many are confused about what changes are coming and when, according to new research from the AA.
In a survey of more than 14,000 AA members, 7% thought the government was banning the sale of used petrol and diesel cars.
Around a third thought manual EVs exist, despite them all being automatic.
More than one in five said they would never buy an EV.
The government’s plan for increasing the number of electric vehicles being driven in the UK focuses heavily on increasing the supply of the vehicles.
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What you can do to reach net zero
In 2024, at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold by each manufacturer in the UK had to be zero-emission, which generally means pure electric.
Each year, those percentages will rise, reaching 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans in 2030.
Manufacturers will face fines of £15,000 per vehicle if electric vehicle sales fall short of 28% of total production this year.
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By 2035, all new cars and vans will be required to be fully zero emission, according to the Department for Transport.
Second-hand diesel and petrol cars will still be allowed to be sold after this date, and their fuel will still be available.
There are more EVs – but will people buy them?
In February, 25% of new cars were powered purely by battery and in January, they made up 21% of all new cars registered in the UK.
But despite the growth of electric sales, manufacturers continue to warn that the market will not support the growth required to hit government EV targets, and called for consumer incentives and the extension of tax breaks.
The AA suggested the government’s plan focuses on “supply but does little to encourage demand for EVs”.
It called on ministers to co-ordinate a public awareness campaign alongside the motoring industry which directly targets drivers who doubt the viability of EVs.
“Our message to government is more needs to be done to make EVs accessible for everyone,” said Jakob Pfaudler, AA chief executive.
Which? head of consumer rights Sue Davis said: “When it comes to making sustainable choices such as switching to an electric car, our research shows that people are often held back by high costs, complex choices or uncertainty.
“The government needs to provide the right information on electric vehicles and other sustainable choices so that people have the confidence to switch.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We’re investing over £2.3bn to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to EVs.
“This includes installing a public charge point every 28 minutes, keeping EV incentives in the company car tax regime to 2030, and extending 100% first-year allowances for zero-emission cars for another year.
“Second-hand EVs are also becoming cheaper than ever, with one in three available under £20,000 and 21 brand new models available for less than £30,000.
“We’re seeing growing consumer confidence as a result.”
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