Manchester United transfer funds set to take a hit with loan players a tough sell

The club may find it hard to secure permanent exits for Alexis Sanchez, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hopes of boosting transfer funds through sales are set to be hit by the financial impact of coronavirus.

The Manchester United manager is looking to secure permanent moves for on-loan players such as Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo.

Alexis Sanchez is also on loan at Inter Milan and doesn’t figure in Solskjaer’s plans even though United have been forced to review spending in what was seen as a pivotal transfer window.

While it has long been accepted they would struggle to demand a fee for Sanchez due to his wages of around £450,000-a-week, Smalling and Rojo represented an opportunity to bring in significant funds.

Smalling, in particular, has impressed on loan at AS Roma this season, with the Serie A club keen to keep him in Italy beyond the end of the season.

And Rojo, who saw a loan to Everton blocked last August, has since been allowed to return to his former club Estudiantes.

Neither are in Solskjaer’s thinking, with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof established at the heart of the Norwegian’s defence, while there are high hopes for Axel Tuanzebe and fit-again Eric Bailly.

Bongarts/Getty Images

But with football across the globe counting the cost of Covid-19, United are likely to have to lower their expectations in terms of fees – or even accept extended loan deals.

Rojo was valued in the region of £20million last summer.

The signing of Odion Ighalo is seen as indicative of much of the business that will be done when the window eventually opens.

Manchester United via Getty Images

Solskjaer had set his sights on a top-class striker, with Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele high on his wanted list.

But Ighalo represented a short-term fix, signing the Nigeria international until January and allowing United to focus energy and funds on priority targets like Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish.

Clubs around the world are expected to engage in more loan or swap deals, with insiders suggesting buyers are looking further down wanted lists to fifth or sixth options to find cheaper alternatives.

United traditionally allow money from sales to go towards transfer budgets, but they are waiting to see if they can secure permanent moves for any of their on-loan players.

Estudiantes have cast doubt of Rojo remaining, with coach Leandro Desabato admitting he expects the 30-year-old to return to Old Trafford when his loan expires at the end of the month.

Manchester United via Getty Imag

“We have to wait, but Rojo is likely to leave,” he told FM Radio Late 93.1. “The loan is due, and if Manchester do not want to continue loaning, it's understandable.”

Paul Pogba was widely expected to move this summer to give a significant boost to Solskjaer’s spending power, but United do not believe any club will come close to their £150m valuation.

Solskjaer has been assured United will be highly competitive in the market, with club withdrawing £140m in credit to add to cash reserves of £90m.

But that money will also have to go towards other expenditure as United attempt to cope with the financial fallout of coronavirus.

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