Manchester United are on the march to secure funds to strengthen their team further as they secure transfer exits for some of their players.
Willy Kambwala is the latest one to depart, and perhaps the most shocking one too, as he had broken through last season to emerge as a dependable option in during the injury crisis.
However, most fans were understanding of Kambwala’s situation this season as United target young center-backs, which would have ultimately curtailed his minutes.
It is why, instead of ruing over United letting go of a decent prospect, Kambwala’s sale should be celebrated as it validates the fact that United have learned a big lesson.
Willy Kambwala’s sale is more than just money secured
When Kambwala’s prospective transfer to Villarreal was reported, some fans reacted with trepidation, thinking about the player he could become.
However, the reality is that as things stand right now, Kambwala wouldn’t have crossed the 500-minute mark in United senior team next season.
At 19, soon to turn 20, the Frenchman needs regular minutes at the top level to reach his potential and ideally do so in a stable environment instead of a loan uncertainty every summer.
Moreover, he was in the last year of his contract and had already rejected one offer for an extension, which paints a clear picture of United’s ruthlessness.
United have finally a transfer fee for an academy product while his value was at its peak, and smartly retained a sell-on plus a buy-back clause for him.
There have been numerous examples in the past where United player spend time away from the first team, get stuck in a loan cycle, and depart United on a free transfer.
The likes of Hannibal Mejbri and Shola Shoretire, whose development and transfer value have tanked after ill-advised loans, are two recent examples.
Had United sold Mejbri to a club after his successful Birmingham loan last summer, or gave him proper first-team minutes, it would have been fruitful.
Instead, they dithered, Mejbri spent the first half of the season on the fringes of the first team, the second half warming the bench at Sevilla, and is now a distressed asset.
Selling Kambwala while controlling his future is the kind of ruthlessness and decisiveness that United have been missing for a long time. They have finally learned their lesson.
Another win for Ineos
It was always expected that Ineos would be better operators than the Glazers. That was never a high bar to clear. However, it is still a pleasant surprise how quickly and visibly positive the change has been.
United are doing things in the market that they just didn’t used to until last season. Be it reports of working on multiple deals at a time, negotiating with a hard stance to get rid of United tax, or being ruthless in selling, it is all the hallmark of a competent team that they weren’t under the Glazers.
It is still early days for the new structure at United so managing to engineer so much change while they still settle their feet under themselves promises a brighter future for the club.
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