Man United’s ‘lost’ transfer fees of £273 million over ten years are an obvious issue for Ineos to fix

Manchester United has a history of poor player sales throughout transfer windows, and that trend has continued this summer.

With only 35 days until Manchester United’s 2025/26 Premier League season versus Arsenal, Ineos has yet to sell any players this summer.

Ruben Amorim requested the sale of five unwanted players and instructed them not to attend pre-season training last week.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony are all up for sale, with the proceeds put back into the squad.

However, a lack of transfer movement has brought United’s entire window to a halt, and once again, the club will be forced to cut their asking price and sell for cheap.

Manchester United should sell players for much more.

This window, United fans have already seen former stars Anthony Elanga and Alvaro Fernandez sell for exorbitant prices.

Elanga was transferred to Nottingham Forest for £15 million before being resold to Newcastle United for £55 million this summer. Similarly, Fernandez, who was sold for £5 million, has now joined Real Madrid for £43 million.

According to a report by The Athletic, Manchester United has lost £273 million in the past decade due to players who were sold for considerably higher prices than the club received.

After Newcastle United paid Nottingham Forest £52m for a player Manchester United sold for £15m, @CWeatherspoon_ explores the clubs who have ‘lost’ most on future transfer fees – and what it really reflects about those clubs and the state of the game.

🔗 https://t.co/JxiMfKtISj pic.twitter.com/8dPKifQUQO

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 13, 2025

United finished second only to Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola’s team earned significantly less from player sales within the same time period.

It shows that United are not getting the full value from their player sales, something Ineos must address sooner rather than later.

Ineos faces a tricky stick-or-twist transfer issue.

The numbers are clear: United are bad sellers who have frequently been forced to sell players for less than their market value in order to clear their books at Old Trafford.

Ineos may have to do the same thing this summer, with teams so far unable to reach the asking rates for youngsters like Rashford, Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho.

United want £40 million for Rashford, which is a reasonable price for a Premier League player. However, Barcelona prefers a loan agreement, and Ineos risks missing out.

Ineos must now decide whether to lower their asking prices in order to drive sales and so fast reinvest in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

Alternatively, to remain tenacious in the market and stick to their asking pricing, even if it means sales don’t occur until the end of the window.

Manchester United transfer news: United enable Real Madrid to finalize €50 million signing

Manchester United has moved aside to allow Real Madrid to complete a €50 million deal, but the Red Devils will benefit from the transfer.

In recent years, Manchester United has been known to cover their backs when offloading younger players. When completing sales, whether buy-backs or sell-ons, the club makes it a point to include various stipulations.

In the instance of left-back Alvaro Carreras, United included both and had matching rights. In other words, they had the option to match any bid made for the Benfica player before the transfer could be completed.

In January, United signed Patrick Dorgu to strengthen their left-back/left-wing-back lineup. As a result, despite Carreras’ outstanding 2024/25 season in Portugal, United had no plans to re-sign him.

Real Madrid saw the situation differently and promptly reached a personal agreement with Carreras in the early stages of the summer window. Los Blancos then agreed to pay Benfica €50 million / £43 million in instalments, but couldn’t complete the transfer until Manchester United stepped in.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United has finally given Real Madrid permission to complete the transaction.

Taking to X in the early hours of Saturday morning, Romano stated: “Alvaro Carreras can be called the new Real Madrid player because he will travel to Madrid today!

“Medical has been booked, and the player is now authorized to travel. Manchester United affirm they will not trigger the buyback option, meaning the transfer is now final.

“€50 million in instalments. “Here we go, confirmed.”

United incorporated a 20% sell-on clause, which applies to Benfica’s profit from Carreras.

Benfica paid €6 million / £5 million a year ago, thus Manchester United will generate 20% of €44 million / £38 million, or around £7.6 million.

Of course, because Real Madrid is paying the sum in stages, Manchester United will not receive the full £7.6 million immediately now.

The club has also benefited from another sell-on clause, this time for Anthony Elanga.

When United signed the winger from Nottingham Forest two summers ago, they included a 15% sell-on clause in his contract.

On Friday, Elanga completed a £55 million transfer to Newcastle, and United is entitled to 15% of Forest’s profits. 15 percent of £40 million equals £6 million.

Man Utd in’mix’ for signing Newcastle-linked player who would only cost £21.6 million; elite club has’made queries’.

Manchester United and Newcastle have both been connected with a midfield prospect who is receiving serious interest from one of Europe’s top clubs.

Since Manchester United’s £62.5 million signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves in June, the Red Devils’ summer transfer window has been rather quiet.

Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim expects additional transfers to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, following the arrival of Matheus Cunha.

summer.

Bryan Mbeumo, a 25-year-old Brentford and Cameroon player, is a key summer target for United, along with former Wolves standout Cunha.

Ruben Amorim has been rebuilding the United first-team roster, which he inherited from former Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag after joining from Sporting CP in 2024.

Manchester United are looking to add a new midfielder and striker before the September transfer window closes.

Newcastle and Manchester United are now competing for Feyenoord midfielder Quinten Timber from the Netherlands.

Quinten Timber had previously been connected with Premier League clubs Manchester United and Newcastle, as reported by TEAMtalk.

United expressed interest in Quinten Timber during Erik ten Hag’s time as manager at Old Trafford until his dismissal in October.

Timber might be a cheap midfield target for United this summer, but Inter Milan, the 2025 Champions League finalists, are also keen in the Dutchman.

According to TEAMtalk, the 24-year-old midfielder ‘figures heavily’ on Inter Milan’s shortlist for midfield possibilities under new manager Cristian Chivu this summer.

According to the magazine, Inter have intensified up their pursuit of United-linked Timber, and the Serie A club has’made queries’ with Feyenoord about the midfielder.

Feyenoord’s transfer position on Netherlands player Quinten Timber, amid interest from Manchester United, Newcastle, and Inter Milan

TEAMtalk reported that both United and Newcastle had ‘considered’ Quinten Timber and were ‘in the mix’ to recruit the midfield star, ‘albeit less so’ than previously.

Timber has been with Feyenoord since 2022, when he was signed from Eredivisie side Utrecht, and the Dutch midfielder has 17 goals in 101 appearances for the team.

The Netherlands international’s current contract expires in 2026, and Feyenoord is expected to demand a fee of approximately £21.6 million (€25 million) for Timber this summer.

United and Newcastle ‘have showed interest’ in Timber, but no Premier League club is ‘advancing in discussions’ for the Feyenoord star.

Inter has not’submitted an official offer’ for Netherlands midfielder Timber, but the player is still allegedly under’serious consideration’ by the Italian club.

Sky Sports: Leeds United eye double Newcastle United transfer swoop as personal conditions are agreed

Leeds United are pursuing a double transfer swoop from Newcastle.

Leeds have agreed personal terms with Sean Longstaff and filed a £10 million plus £2 million add-ons offer.

Newcastle extended Longstaff’s contract to the end of the 2025/26 season to avoid losing him on a free transfer in the summer.

And the club appears prepared to cash in on the academy graduate in a move that will be recorded as pure profit in Newcastle’s PSR calculations.

Longstaff’s 19-year association with Newcastle might come to an end when he joins a newly promoted Leeds side. Longstaff made 214 appearances for the Magpies after coming up through the youth, scoring 16 goals.

Longstaff’s highlight at Newcastle was likely his goal in the 4-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain in October 2023.

Leeds are seeking to do further business with Newcastle this summer, in addition to signing Longstaff.

Sky Sports make a Leeds United transfer claim.

Leeds are also interested in Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Pope’s long-term future at St James’ Park is questionable as he enters the final year of his contract. The Magpies are also looking to sign James Trafford from Burnley.

Newcastle ideally wants to keep Pope and have him fight with Trafford for the starting goalkeeper role.

However, Leeds are looking for a new goalkeeper this summer to replace Illan Meslier.

According to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Nick Pope wishes to remain at Newcastle despite interest from Leeds United.

“With #NUFC in talks with Burnley over James Trafford, there are questions about Pope’s future at the club.” But Newcastle want him to stay, and so does Pope, 33, with Champions League action on the horizon.

The expectation is that Pope will stay, but everything might alter if Trafford arrives in Newcastle. The possible goalkeeper deal would almost probably allow Martin Dubravka to leave the club this summer.

Newcastle now has five senior goalkeepers under contract, with Dubravka, John Ruddy, and Mark Gillespie all signing new agreements this year. The other two are Pope and Odysseas Vlachodimos, with the latter potentially available for loan.

So, even if Pope stays in Newcastle, Leeds will have plenty of options if they decide to continue shopping on Tyneside.

James Trafford’s newest transfer comes following NUFC’s proposal.

The possible arrival of Trafford will most likely decide any goalkeeper movement at Newcastle this summer.

Newcastle made a £27 million approach for the goalkeeper last month, which Burnley rejected, but have stayed in talks since.

Trafford has made minimal progress in the last week or two, and he is currently back training with Burnley in preparation for the season. However, the Magpies have been working on the transfer for over a year and are still hoping to complete it before the first game of pre-season on July 19 at Celtic (3pm kickoff).