Manchester United are targeting players entering the final year of their contracts this summer as part of the rebuild under new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a source has told ESPN.
United have money to spend in the summer transfer window despite concerns over breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
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The club improved its financial situation in January by allowing several players, including Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho, to leave Old Traffford. A host of young players also left, including Facundo Pellistri, Hannibal Mejbri and Álvaro Fernández, while on-loan defender Sergio Reguilón saw his temporary spell cut short.
Despite what the club considered a positive January window, a source told ESPN that finances remain “tight” and targeting players nearing the end of their contracts is seen as a good way to manage their summer spending. .
It was one of the reasons why Mason Mount became such an attractive prospect last summer, when United were told before negotiations that he would not sign a new contract with Chelsea.
The west London club decided to facilitate Mount's departure so as not to risk losing the English midfielder for free a year later.
United are exploring a series of similar deals ahead of this summer with players such as Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan David and Khephren Thuram due to expire in 2025.
Manchester City are also among other clubs to have shown interest in German international Kimmich, who will enter the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
Bayern defender Alphonso Davies will also enter the final year of his contract in the summer, but sources have told ESPN that Real Madrid are his best option if he decides to leave the Allianz Arena.
Ratcliffe and his INEOS team hope to appoint a new director of football in the coming weeks, but planning for the summer window has already begun. Ratcliffe's 25% stake is expected to be confirmed in mid-February.
