Manchester United are cleaning house, announcing the release of players with expiring contracts. It’s long overdue.
Paul Pogba’s departure was made official, followed later on by a similar message wishing Jesse Lingard the best in his future endeavours.
This adds to news already of Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani, and Lee Grant’s upcoming releases when their contracts expire at the end of June. Juan Mata could follow.
The releases free up squad space and salary space, but how much exactly?
United set to save £44.8 million per year
Figures via Spotrac show how much Manchester United’s departing stars were earning during their final year at Old Trafford. Here’s a breakdown.
- Paul Pogba was earning £290,000 per week, £15 million per year.
- Edinson Cavani was earning £250,000 per week, £13 million per year.
- Nemanja Matic was earning £120,000 per week, £6.2 million per year.
- Jesse Lingard was earning £75,000 per week, £3.9 million per year.
- In previous seasons Lee Grant was earning £30,000 per week, £1.5 million per year.
- Juan Mata was earning £100,000 per week, £5.2 million per year.
Combined, the release of these six players works out at £44.8 million per year.
Reducing the wage bill will have been a target for United, but much of the money could be reinvested into new signings.
Further departures, potentially for Axel Tuanzebe, Alex Telles, Eric Bailly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Dean Henderson and Anthony Martial among others, could further add to United’s salary savings, offsetting spending on new arrivals.
There are commercial factors to consider too. Pogba’s departure may negatively influence income in this regard, but this was no reason to keep him, even if Ed Woodward may have felt otherwise.
These departures are all good for Manchester United. It’s rightly time to clean house and move on, after the club’s lowest ever Premier League points total.
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