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Manchester United’s planned summer clearout has already begun with Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Brandon Williams already departing the club upon the expiration of their contracts.
The wage bill has been trimmed but more sales are required to supplement the club’s reported transfer budget of only £50 million and Mason Greenwood is one player who the club are desperate to move on.
United want to agree a permanent exit before pre-season starts and so far, Lazio have reportedly come closest to matching United’s valuation of £40 million but ultimately fell £10 million short.
There is also interest from Getafe, where the United academy graduate spent last season on loan, as well as from Valencia in Spain while Serie A clubs such as Juventus and Napoli are all eyeing a summer move.
Greenwood’s uncertain future
The Peoples Person recently relayed that Marseille have spoken to the player with the Englishman favouring a move to the Ligue 1 side over other clubs.
However, L’Équipe have now revealed that any deal for the 22-year-old will be “very difficult” for the French club to pull off both due to the finances involved as well as the player’s controversial past.
Roberto De Zerbi would love for Greenwood to come to Marseille but amid the ongoing television rights uncertainty and with the lack of European football to offer, it would be difficult for them to afford the versatile forward.
Also, the report mentions that French club’s supporters have begun protesting against the club’s pursuit of the United star on social media.
“Discussions are continuing in the offensive sector with Bachir Belloumi (Farense), while the case of Mason Greenwood has been studied but the arrival of the English player (Manchester United, back from loan from Getafe) is very complicated, and not only for sporting reasons.
Marseille finding it difficult to land Greenwood
“OM supporters have already launched a protest movement on social networks to denounce the signing of the player, accused of domestic violence in 2022 before the proceedings were dropped.”
The England international was arrested on charges of attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Those charges were subsequently dropped but United’s plans of reintegrating him back into the team was met with intense criticism and backlash from fans, prompting a U-turn and the player was sent out on loan to Getafe.
His move to France could meet the same fate and INEOS could be left burdened with a player they simply cannot afford to keep. It will be interesting to see how Sir Jim Ratcliffe handles this situation.
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