MU told they ‘have to sell’ prime assets over PSR fears

Alan Shearer believes Manchester United will have to sell at least one of their highest-valued players to adhere to Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Ruben Amorim’s first window in charge of the Red Devils now nears a close with the club still sitting a lowly 12th in the Premier League table heading into the weekend. The chaos that many perhaps thought would exit Old Trafford with Erik ten Hag has seemingly remained.

It was reported in January that United would happily listen to offers for the majority of their first-team stars, including those previously deemed untouchable, to adhere to potential financial penalties as their new Portuguese boss struggles to find the right personnel for his system.

Now, former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker Shearer - alongside fellow pundits Gary Lineker and Micah Richards - believes that not only will the club be forced to sell, but they'll have to sacrifice from the pool of their three most valuable assets in Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.

“By all accounts, they’ve got no money to bring players in, so they’re gonna have to sell. In terms of PSR,” Shearer said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

Responding to a fan's question about United selling thier key players, he then asked: “Who are their prime assets?” Richards responded: “Kobbie Mainoo.” Lineker then chimed in: “Kobbie Mainoo would definitely be one.”

“Garnacho would probably fetch you £50million. They're talking about Napoli for £50m,” was Richards’ next interjection, with Lineker throwing out another name: “Bruno Fernandes, I’d think is. I mean he's a class player, and I think with a lot of perhaps better individuals around him I think he'd be standing out even more often. I mean, he’s kind of held them together on a lot of occasions, so...

“He (Amorim) needs players that can play in the system that he wants to play. Because he says he is not gonna change, he’s not gonna adapt. This is the way he believes it should be played, so therefore, their recruitment needs to be for players that can play in certain positions in the way that he wants them.

“They've made a real mess of it so far. I mean, they're talking about putting ticket prices up again because they are financially in difficulties - you think you're gonna put this on the fans? There are major concerns about that football club.”

Of the trio, only Fernandes hasn’t been directly linked with a move away from the club in January. Last month, disputes over a contract renewal saw youngster Mainoo linked with a switch, specifically to Chelsea. Garnacho is another name who could still reportedly depart Old Trafford before Monday’s deadline, with Napoli and the Blues also supposedly interested.

”I would sell a couple of the players, yeah, and I would just start again,” stated Richards, evidently keen to see United initiate an overhaul for Amorim. “I agree with Gary. The players don't know how to play the formation.

“Can they learn? Are they willing to learn? I would just start again. Can it get any worse? It can’t get any worse than it already is, so you might as well start again with players who know the system.”