Manchester United have a significant opportunity to reduce their financial outlay following the departure of manager Ruben Amorim, with the club poised to save a substantial sum if three unsettled players move on.
The £13 Million Wage Dilemma
According to reports, the Old Trafford club could shed an estimated £13 million from their annual wage bill. This figure relates to the combined salaries of three players who were reportedly dissatisfied with their lack of game time under the former Portuguese head coach: midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, striker Joshua Zirkzee, and midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
The Daily Mail claims that all three were considering a January exit had Amorim remained in charge. Their struggles for regular first-team football this season have now placed their futures in the spotlight, with a new interim and permanent manager potentially offering a lifeline.
Player Profiles and Contract Situations
The wage breakdown of the trio is revealing. Academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo is said to be on the lowest salary at around £1 million per year, yet his fall from grace has been stark. Once considered an unsellable asset and an England starter in the Euro 2024 final, he has found himself on the bench and, as yet, unable to agree a contract extension. Clubs like Chelsea and Napoli are reportedly monitoring his situation.
Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte commands an estimated £6.24 million annually, while Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee earns approximately £5.2 million. Both will be hoping a tactical shift under new management can revive their United careers, though Zirkzee has been persistently linked with a return to Italian football.
Transfer Speculation and Managerial Change
The sacking of Ruben Amorim has undoubtedly altered the transfer landscape for these players. For Zirkzee, interest from Serie A remains, with AS Roma's club director Ricky Massara recently commenting on the speculation.
Massara told Sky Sports Italy: "He is a Manchester United centre-forward liked by many clubs, not just us. Naturally, the situation is different after this change of management." He added that while there are no current contacts, Roma are looking to reinforce their attack.
It remains to be seen whether any of the trio will now seek to force a move away in the wake of the managerial change, or if they will fight for their place. However, from a financial perspective, Manchester United may still view the potential departure of these high-earning, peripheral figures as a chance to streamline their squad and budget for future reinforcements under a new permanent boss.
