Manchester United are hoping to sell Mason Greenwood to fund a double Premier League deal

Manchester United are preparing to sell Mason Greenwood as they look to free up funds for key transfer targets, talkSPORT understands.

Erik ten Hag, who is set to stay in charge next season, will have an initial gross budget of just £35m to spend this summer.

If the Red Devils have more money at their disposal in the next transfer window, they will have to sell members of their current squad to comply with PSR rules.

And according to talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crooks, Greenwood is one of the players United are looking to offload to make that possible, with Juventus interested.

Appearing on talkSPORT Breakfast, Crook discussed the 22-year-old’s future prospects, saying: “(He is) clearly a player whose future lies away from Man United.

“(There is) definite interest from Juventus, I’m told there have been talks between the two clubs.”

Crook also revealed that the striker, who has not played for United since 2022, has other admirers after a strong loan spell at Getafe last season, where he recorded eight goals and six assists in 33 LaLiga games.

He pointed to Juve’s rivals Napoli, saying: “Don’t rule Napoli out of the race,” before adding: “There are a lot of big European clubs coming after him.”

And Greenwood may not be the only player heading for the Old Trafford exit this summer given the club’s need to meet financial regulations.

Crook highlighted Jadon Sancho, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund after a public spat with Ten Hag, as another high-profile name who could be set to move on.

He continued: “Of course Manchester United, in order to balance the PSR restrictions, have to sell players.

“I would expect Jadon Sancho to move on now in some capacity. Of course, when Erik ten Hag stays, it is difficult to see a way back for Sancho.”

The sale of both players could open the door for United to pursue their top transfer targets, including Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.

Despite being favorites to land Branthwaite’s signature, Crook revealed the English giants are reluctant to meet the Toffees’ £70m asking price.

He explained: “Big target Jarrad Branthwaite would like to bring him from Everton but they won’t pay over the odds for Branthwaite, Everton’s asking price is over £70m.

“Manchester United just don’t have the ability or the will to pay that kind of money.”

The Red Devils’ reluctance to spend big this summer is in stark contrast to their previous transfer activity, which has seen them splash out £411m on new arrivals since the Ten Hag’s appointment in 2022.

And Crook explained that this strategy is part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new approach to recruitment: “What Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to avoid is the mistakes that United made under their old regime, of bidding almost against them.

“They will have to be creative, they will have to move the players forward. I think they are hoping and praying that a huge money offer comes in for Casemiro from Saudi Arabia.

“Otherwise, I think it will be difficult to redevelop this team.

“They want Michael Olise, for example, at Crystal Palace. Again, I can’t see them going out and paying £60m for him at the moment.”