According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are ready to let midfielder Fred depart from Old Trafford this summer.
This comes after the Red Devils successfully reached an agreement to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount. The negotiations for Mount took a few weeks, but United managed to secure his services for a transfer fee of £55 million, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons.
Following the acquisition of the English midfielder, Man United intends to prioritize the sale of a midfielder, with Fred emerging as the most probable candidate for departure this summer.
While there have been speculations about Scott McTominay leaving in recent months, it is unlikely as he is the youngest senior midfielder in the first-team squad.
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Donny van de Beek and Hannibal Mejbri are other players who could potentially be offloaded, although there is currently no solid interest in acquiring them. Fred, who was signed for £52 million in 2018, has been on Fulham’s radar since May.
After spending five seasons at United, Fred’s tenure has been a mix of standout performances and disappointing displays. As his contract expires next summer, it comes as no surprise that the club is open to considering his departure.
Fulham have shown a keen interest in signing Fred, and their manager Marco Silva was seen having a lengthy conversation with the Brazilian in the car park at Old Trafford back in May. While United values Fred at £20 million, Fulham may look for a more affordable deal.
On the other hand, United’s decision to retain McTominay is expected, given his status as the youngest senior midfielder in the squad and his status as a homegrown player.
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Finding a cheap replacement for him would be challenging if he were to leave. McTominay still has two years left on his contract, with the option for an additional 12 months, giving the club ample time to decide his future and potentially delay his departure for another year.
