Manchester United are discovering the difficult reality of their £60m transfer plan

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It is no secret by now that player sales hold the key to what will be achievable for Manchester United in this summer's transfer window.

After failing to qualify for next season's Champions League, revenue streams will not be as lucrative as what they would have otherwise been, meaning United must box clever in this summer's window.

They have already spent £62.5million on Wolves ace Matheus Cunha, signing him on a five-year deal, and Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo is next on their wish list. He is likely to command a fee in the region of £60m.

With a striker, a midfielder and a goalkeeper also required this summer, United will not get much further with their shopping unless they oversee a crop of sales.

The Reds have become more proactive in the seller's market under Ineos' governance but they are yet to flex their muscles in that particular area so far this summer.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News last month, United have identified Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony as priority sales this summer. The trio all spent time out on loan last season and do not figure in Ruben Amorim's plans.

Alejandro Garnacho has also been informed he can leave if the club receives an acceptable offer. However, his latest social media antics mean he may now be categorised in the same bracket as fellow wingers Rashford, Sancho and Antony.

Garnacho was the subject of a £40m offer from Napoli in January and that was rejected. He is expected to be valued at somewhere between £50m and £60m.

Antony is admired by Real Betis after his loan spell in Seville in the second half of last term and he has made no secret of his preference to return to that parish. However, United need to sell him for £32.58m this summer to avoid a loss under the profit and sustainability rules (PSR), and that could be a bridge too far for the Spanish side, despite him being prepared to take a 30 per cent wage cut.

(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images.)

Rashford, however, is not prepared to take a pay cut. He is on £325,000-a-week at Old Trafford and he wants a similar salary elsewhere.

United want to offload the England international this summer and value him at £40m. For a player of Rashford's true quality and capability, that, on face value, is a reasonable fee.

However, his wages will be problematic for many, so much so many will be priced out. If Rashford, for example, was signed for £40m on a five-year deal worth £325,000-a-week, the transfer would eventually be worth £124.5m.

The attacker also wants to join a club who can offer him Champions League football, restricting his options even further. Barcelona have long since appealed to Rashford and it remains to be seen if they will make an official approach for him amid their quest to sign fellow winger Nico Williams from Athletic Club.

United are preparing for the possibility of sending Rashford out on loan this summer, and that is not a situation that would suit either the player or the club. It would be in everybody's best interests to draw a line under his time at Old Trafford.

Getting Sancho off the books also looks as though it will prove to be difficult. Chelsea's decision to pull out of their obligation to sign him permanently has added to United's plate.

(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images.)

Having that agreement in place meant it was hoped United would be able to sell Sancho relatively smoothly this summer. Chelsea paid United £5m to break the agreement.

Like Rashford, Sancho is another high earner at Old Trafford, understood to be on around £250,000-a-week. Napoli have expressed interest in him but will not adhere to his wage demands unless he lowers them.

Sporting director Giovanni Manna said on Sunday: "Our offer is clear, we will not pay Sancho's requested salary."

Sancho is open to moving to Italy this summer, but that only looks as though it will be possible if he reconsiders his salary expectations. Just like in Rashford's case, without doing so, he is only attainable to a very small number of clubs.

With United in desperate need of raising cash to bring new players in, their hopes of banking around £60m from the departures of two of their wantaway players are already looking as though they could be hampered.

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