MASON GREENWOOD COULD RETURN TO MAN UTD TRAINING AHEAD OF NEW SEASON
Manchester United are prepared to welcome Mason Greenwood back for pre-season training – if they fail to sell their exiled striker within the next fortnight.
United are trying to agree a permanent deal to offload forward Greenwood, who spent last season on loan at La Liga side Getafe, where he scored 10 goals in 36 appearances. Lazio have shown interest in signing Greenwood, but their initial offer of £30m is at least £10m short of United's asking price for the 22-year-old, who has a solitary England cap.
Greenwood was sent out on loan to Getafe last summer after United made a spectacular last minute U-turn on a plan to reintegrate him into Erik ten Hag's squad.
United had planned to bring Greenwood back into the fold, after charges of attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour against him were dropped. But those plans were ditched after United were criticised over their handling of Greenwood, and the club, fearing a damaging backlash, reneged on their original decision and sent him out on loan.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his newly-assembled football executive team at United are still minded to sell Greenwood and use the revenue generated from his sale to strengthen the squad.
Although there is significant interest in Greenwood from Lazio, Juventus and Napoli, a permanent deal has yet to be concluded, with United due back for pre-season on July 8.
If Greenwood remains under contract with United, it is understood the forward would be eligible to report back for pre-season training with the rest of the squad.
Such a scenario may bring further criticism United's way, given the ongoing sensitivity surrounding Greenwood, but he would be entitled to begin his pre-season training programme.
Greenwood has not played for United since being suspended in January 2022, following his arrest, although all subsequent charges he faced were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
United's willingness to sell Greenwood – who has one year left on his contract - has been strengthened by the fact any fee would count as pure profit under the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, as a result of him coming through the club's academy.
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2024-06-26T10:15:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd