DBasia.news – Manchester United has started to look at the 2021 summer transfer market. Currently, the focus is on observing at the squad they have, releasing players whose contracts have expired, and negotiating with players who can be kept.
Man United, through the club’s official website, confirmed eight players had left as their contracts expired and the club had no intention of extending them. They include two players in the Man United first team: Joel Pereira and Sergio Romero.
“In this season, player contracts will expire at all levels at Manchester United, as the squad begins to form before the 2021-2022 season,” read a statement on United’s official website.
“Eight players were released and that included first-team goalkeepers Joel Pereira and Sergio Romero, as well as six members of the academy: Jacob Carney, Mark Helm, Iestyn Hughes, Arnau Puigmal, Max Taylor and Aliou Traore.”
“We thank all of them for their service to the club.” Among those names the departure of Sergio Romero has been in the spotlight. Within a season after Dean Henderson returned from a loan spell at Sheffield United, Romero’s position as a competitor and back-up for David De Gea was displaced.
Romero (34) has played for United since 2015 and was brought in by Louis van Gaal. Prior to United, the Argentine national team goalkeeper defended AZ, Sampdoria, and AS Monaco. Despite being a coating, Romero is a quality and experienced goalkeeper who can be relied on.
Negotiations with Juan Mata and Lee Grant
Unlike the eight players, United are still negotiating with Juan Mata, Lee Grant and academy product Paul Woolston for new contracts.
“Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Lee Grant and experienced forward Juan Mata are in discussions over a new contract at United, as well as young goalkeeper Paul Woolston,” wrote a United statement.
Mata (33) has been with Man United since 2014. He rarely played last season, but his experience is still useful to lead United’s youth squad. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed negotiations with Mata to stay, activating the option to extend his contract by a year.
“We’re talking to Juan,” said Solskjaer last May. “We will sit down together and of course that’s what he wants too. I didn’t give him enough playing time. But he is a top professional.”