Report: United struggling to sell fringe players to fund transfers

Manchester United's summer shopping plans are on hold as the club struggles to offload a slew of fringe first-team players, according to ESPN UK's Rob Dawson.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is open to selling Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Andreas Pereira, and Sergio Romero to bankroll further additions, though the quintet's significant wages have deterred suitors.

Those players will either need to take a pay cut to cement a departure or negotiate a buyout with United that covers the remaining terms on their current contracts, sources told Dawson.

Jones featured just twice in the league last season and has three years remaining on his contract after penning an extension in February 2019. Center-back mate Smalling is wanted at Roma following a successful loan in Serie A, though the Giallorossi are resistant to meeting the Englishman's opulent wages.

Dean Henderson's return to Old Trafford means shot-stopper Romero is surplus to requirements, and the Argentine has been linked with Aston Villa, Everton, and Leeds. Pereira is reportedly being monitored by Benfica and Valencia, while Rojo could move to Boca Juniors.

The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent work stoppage limited United's ability to spend big in the transfer window. To date, only Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek has been lured from Ajax for a £40-million fee, while Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho remains a priority.