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Reports about the future of Manchester United star Mason Greenwood are generating faster than Marcus Rashford can drink tequilas.
The much hyped Greenwood criminal arrest and charges for assault and attempted rape left United politically and ethically obliged to find a new home for the young superstar, even though those charges were later dropped.
And after a successful loan spell at Getafe, the 22-year-old is now set to be sold as the Red Devils look to boost their meager £50m transfer fund.
Most of the talk this week has been about Juventus’ desperation to sign the Bradford-born striker, with The subway stating that the Old Lady has submitted an offer of £40 million (€47.5 million).
Italian media such as Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport have also suggested that Juve are ready to dive to the extreme, but they have not corroborated Metro’s very dubious claim.
Meanwhile, transfer market I insist that there have been no offers from Turin and that Juventus has to sell players before they can buy them.
The transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, has corroborated this in his Daily information this morning, but it adds an extra twist.
“There is interest from Juventus, but they have to sell at least one offensive player before they can get him,” says Romano.
“Matías Soulé is attracting concrete interest from West Ham and others, but there is no formal offer yet… Juventus want around €40 million to let Soulé leave the club, so it will not be an easy negotiation.
Federico Chiesa is also expected to be sold as he is entering the final year of his contract and no agreement has been reached on an extension.
Romano insists that with Juve’s finances even tighter than United’s, the Red Devils would be willing to send Greenwood on loan with a mandatory purchase at the end of the term.
“We keep repeating since February and March that Mason Greenwood’s story is over at Manchester United,” he said.
“It could be that type of formula: a possible loan with an obligation to purchase, not an option.”
Far be it from us to question the great transfer guru, but it is difficult to see how this would benefit United, who desperately need to raise cash on the books this year to satisfy profit and sustainability rules.
A large down payment or loan fee could be enough to tempt the United management, but the preference will still be an outright sale or perhaps a player swap this summer.
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