Erik ten Hag is ready to stick five Manchester United players on the transfer list this summer to free up funds for new recruits - and Joel Glazer's favourite Anthony Martial is said to be among the stars who could get the chop.
The Red Devils splashed out a staggering £213million on new signings last year with the likes of Casemiro, Antony and Lisandro Martinez arriving at Old Trafford. By contrast, United only recovered £11.6m from selling Andreas Pereira and Tahith Chong.
Ten Hag is hoping this summer will be different and is ready to offload some big names that don't appear to fit his system to free up even more funds to land his top targets - Harry Kane being number one on his wishlist.
The five players that Ten Hag is ready to part company with for cash, according to the MEN, are Harry Maguire, Brandon Williams, Alex Telles, Martial and Eric Bailly. The latter is currently on loan at Marseille and will join the Ligue 1 side permanently should he hit a milestone appearance and trigger the move. If he doesn't, United will stick him on their official transfer list.
Dean Henderson is another player that United are reportedly open to selling, with rumours the goalkeeper could be used as a bargaining unit in an audacious bid for Tottenham's Harry Kane.
Jadon Sancho is also said to be in danger of being sold, with Ten Hag reportedly growing impatient with his lack of progression in a Man United shirt following his £73m transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
United co-owner Glazer has twice blocked the sale of Martial during his time at United, with Jose Mourinho trying to move him on back in 2019.
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Glazer is said to rate Martial highly, seeing him as comparable to Pele, and wanted to see if the Frenchman could fulfil his potential at Old Trafford.
This is still yet to happen and the Glazers are now looking to sell up, meaning Martial may finally be sold, should Ten Hag receive an acceptable bid for the forward.
Ten Hag has made signing a centre-forward a priority this summer with loanee Wout Weghorst expected to leave once his loan deal at Old Trafford expires.
Kane, as aforementioned, is top of the transfer wishlist, but Victor Osimhen is also being considered by United, as is Goncalo Ramos.
United were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle on the weekend, losing ground in the top-four race. And Ten Hag was quick to point out the importance of qualifying for the Champions League when it comes to signing new players.
"Of course, we are more interesting when we are in the Champions League," he said in his post-match press conference.
"But I think even when we're not we are still attractive for players. I have noticed that also last year when we were not in the Champions League. But I want to make my point clear: we have to be in the Champions League.
"We have two paths. One is the Premier League, being in the top four, or win the Europa League, so they are the two paths."
