FOR SALE: Manchester United puts another three players for sale after having a disastrous season
United’s Ruthless Reset: Rashford, Sancho and Antony Among Summer Exits
In what is swiftly becoming the most radical rebuild at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, Manchester United have signalled their intent with a brutal summer clear-out.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, three of the club’s most high-profile attacking names — Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony — are all set to leave as the club seeks both clarity and compliance.
Priorities Redefined
United’s hierarchy, now operating under the watchful eye of Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have clearly redrawn the lines of loyalty. None of the three are expected to return to the fold next season, with MEN stating: “Manchester United have prioritised the sales of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho as part of their squad overhaul.”
This is not a mere reshuffle. It is a declaration. The names being ushered out were not long ago seen as foundational to the club’s vision. Rashford — once United’s brightest academy hope — is now considered expendable. Sancho — a marquee signing in 2021 — is floundering at Chelsea. Antony — brought in at great expense under Erik ten Hag — is reportedly thriving at Real Betis, but not in Manchester red.
Numbers Game
As ever, football’s cold accounting has its role. United need to offload with precision to stay on the right side of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. “United require a £32.52m fee to avoid a loss on Antony… Sancho would need to generate at least £14.58m,” the report explains. The figures are stark. Rashford, meanwhile, offers pure profit as a homegrown player.
In this context, departures are not simply tactical; they are financial imperatives. Players become entries on balance sheets. Rashford’s injury and lack of interest in London clubs may complicate his exit — “Sources close to Rashford say he has no interest in joining a London club.” A move abroad is most likely.
New Names, Old Problems
Rasmus Hojlund, another recent investment, is also reportedly on the chopping block. “Senior figures at the club have also lost confidence in Rasmus Hojlund,” MEN states. There is admiration for Ipswich striker Liam Delap — a clear sign that youth, mobility and lower wages are now preferable to unfulfilled potential on bloated contracts.
Sancho’s time at Chelsea has done little to salvage his United career. “Sancho has utterly underwhelmed at Chelsea,” the article notes, and should he return, United face an even greater financial headache.
Wider Impact and Departures
Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelöf will be released. Jonny Evans is expected to retire. Tyrell Malacia, a Dutch title-winner on loan at PSV, will also be sold. It’s a squad-wide detox, carried out with little sentiment and full corporate clarity.
From a fan perspective, this is equal parts brutal and necessary. United supporters have watched years of bloated spending yield minimal progress — now, the club is finally confronting its mistakes. There’s no nostalgia in this rebuild. The clear-out is indicative of Ineos’ seriousness, but also a reminder of how far standards have fallen when three £70m+ signings are being shown the door with barely a whimper.
Rashford’s impending exit will be the hardest to process emotionally. An academy graduate who once embodied hope, now cast as surplus. His decline has been rapid and often mysterious, but it reflects the disjointed identity of a club that hasn’t had a clear philosophy in years.
Sancho and Antony, meanwhile, feel like textbook examples of the previous regime’s transfer failures. Ill-fitting, overpriced, underperforming. Cutting ties is sensible — but the damage is already done.
Ultimately, fans will judge this summer by the quality of those who arrive, not just those who depart. If the reset is followed by smart, strategic recruitment and genuine alignment between manager and board, there’s hope. If not, this is just more noise from a club that has perfected the art of self-inflicted wounds.
