Manchester United have four sales up their sleeve to address FFP transfer problem

"It's simple. To do something, we need to sell players," said Ruben Amorim last month about summer transfers. "Our focus now is to win these games. Then we have time to focus on that."

The Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) have forced several Premier League clubs into sales of players they would have preferred to keep. Manchester United have not been forced into sales so far, but it feels like that moment is probably just around the corner after a dismal campaign.

Each finishing position in the Premier League is worth approximately £3million and it would be a huge financial blow if United failed to qualify for European competition next season.

United are competing in the Europa League this term and playing in Europe's premium competition, the Champions League, obviously generates more money for the club.

Amorim's side are sat in the bottom of the table and look highly unlikely to secure qualification for European competition for next season via their league position, but they will be granted entry into next season's Champions League if they lift the Europa League trophy in Blibao this May.

That is the target to salvage a miserable season. It would also secure more broadcast revenue and make United a more attractive proposition to transfer targets in the summer window.

Regardless of what happens during the remainder of the season, the certainty is that United will need to sell players to support incomings. Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans are expected to leave upon the expiry of their contracts, which will create room on the wage bill, but sales are required.

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo both attracted interest in the January transfer window, however, it would be a shame to see either academy graduate walk through the exit door.

Although United cleared most of the deadwood in the squad last summer, there are a few obvious candidates to raise funds and the first on that list must be Marcus Rashford, who has been recalled to the England squad for the first time since March 2024 after joining Aston Villa on loan.

The option to make the move permanent was included in the deal for Rashford, who hasn't scored but has contributed four assists in Birmingham. Whether Aston Villa trigger their option to sign Rashford remains to be seen and there is a chance he briefly returns to Manchester.

Aston Villa fans have sung Rashford's name on European away days, though, and he's made a decent start to his loan, which suggests it's more likely that Villa Park will be his permanent new home.

The option to buy Rashford is worth £40million and he is an academy graduate, so that sale will be considered as pure profit in the books. His departure will be key for the transfer budget, although shifting Antony and Jadon Sancho is also set to be high on the agenda at Old Trafford.

United were able to strike a deal with Chelsea for Sancho at the eleventh hour of the summer window and the winger moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan.

The loan included an obligation to buy and Chelsea will pay a minimum of £20million for Sancho, a fee which could increase to £25m depending on his performances in London this season.

Interestingly, there has been a suggestion that Chelsea might not want to sign Sancho permanently, but they would have to stump up a significant fee if they wish to break their agreement.

The worst-case scenario is United receive that fee and try to sell Sancho to another club. The best-case scenario is that they wash their hands of Sancho as soon as possible and earn £25m.

Antony could be remembered as the worst Premier League signing ever, yet he's somehow exploded into life on loan at Real Betis and looks capable of actually scoring goals.

The Brazilian has rediscovered the form he enjoyed at Ajax and that is only good news for United ahead of the summer. Antony must be sold for £32.5m to avoid a PSR loss on his transfer, but that would make him Real Betis' record transfer and they might not have that capital to spend.

Antony's performances for Betis should catch the attention of clubs who are willing to bid in the region of £30m and suitors might look at that fee as value considering what United paid. That might be wishful thinking... but Antony will be worth a reasonable fee if he continues to score goals.

Finally, academy sales will be considered and Dan Gore might be on his way out. The youngster has endured some rotten luck with injuries, and his loan move to Rotherham was disrupted by another minor problem, so perhaps he needs a completely clean slate to try to kick on in his career.

United should be holding out for at least £5m for Gore, although that might be too much for an English football league club to pay for a youngster who hasn't proven himself in the senior game.

Combined sales of those aforementioned players could total around £97.5m.