Manchester United could receive two financial boosts this week as a pair of former Old Trafford talents prepare for big transfers.
Missing out on Champions League football means Manchester United’s budget is a little tighter than Ruben Amorim would ideally like this summer.
Ineos have already invested in one signing as Matheus Cunha completed a move to Old Trafford from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
United’s budget issues are summed up by Cunha’s move, with his £62million release clause being paid across three instalments in two years.
Fringe players will hopefully move on and add to United’s budget, though there has been a lack of concrete interest so far this summer.
Sell-on clauses could prove crucial for United, with two potentially being activated this week.
Real Madrid close in on Alvaro Fernandez
Newcastle United have agreed to sign Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, with a deal worth around £55million now in place.
That will see United bring in upwards of £6million thanks to a sell-on clause, which is believed to be in the region of 15% to 20% of any profit.
It’s only a small fee, but it could help United in the summer transfer window.
Another sell-on clause could be activated this week as Marca claim that Real Madrid have reopened talks to sign Alvaro Fernandez Carreras.
United sold Fernandez to Benfica for just £5million last summer, following a successful loan spell in Portugal.
Real were close to signing Fernandez in June, with United expected to receive around £7million of the expected €45million (£39million) fee.
The deal went cold, though, as Benfica’s Rui Costa claimed Real hadn’t even made a bid for Fernandez.
Talks are back underway, though, and Fabrizio Romano adds that Real are ‘closing in’ on an agreement to land the left-back.
Personal terms are already in place, with Fernandez keen to complete a return to Real, the club he left upon joining United in 2017.
Sell-on clauses spare United’s blushes
United stand to bring in around £13million from the Elanga and Fernandez sell-on clauses, which is the saving grace from allowing these two players to leave in the first place.
Elanga barely featured under Erik ten Hag and was sold to Forest in 2023, where he has taken his game to another level.
Now worth around £55million, Elanga has developed brilliantly at Forest and has made a mockery of Ten Hag’s decision to keep him on the fringes.
Fernandez was superb on loan at Preston North End and returned to Old Trafford hopeful of first-team action, but saw United sign Sergio Reguilon on loan rather than give him a chance.
Ten Hag seemingly didn’t fancy Fernandez either and was happy to sell him for a low price despite United’s struggles at left-back and left wing-back.
Bringing in £13million helps United, but seeing Elanga and Fernandez move on for almost £100million combined is painful.
Elanga left two years ago and Fernandez just 12 months ago, but both players have kicked on and are making good on the potential they showed in the United ranks, with big fees now being paid for both players.
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