Two high-profile Manchester United players have reportedly been put up for sale following a big meeting involving head coach Erik ten Hag and new billionaire co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ahead of the 2024/25 season, GiveMeSport reports Brazil international Casemiro and ex-France defender Raphael Varane are likely to be moved on in the coming transfer window.
The outlet claims conversations over their departures have taken place behind the scenes amid interest from the Saudi Pro League.
New co-owner Ratcliffe has reportedly made it clear to Ten Hag the club will no longer sanction deals to sign players heading into the latter stages of their careers.
Casemiro joined United from Real Madrid in 2022 as a 30-year-old, and has been criticised this term for his lack of energy in midfield.
Varane, meanwhile, signed for the Red Devils in 2021 at 27 years old, but has seen injury and fitness issues disrupt his momentum in England.
Ratcliffe, now in charge of footballing operations, wants the club to move in a new direction in terms of its recruitment, and that means there will not be any more so-called "Hollywood" signings.
Before the two former Los Blancos players, United paid a hefty salary to an ageing Edinson Cavani, while the deals to land Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016 and Bastian Schweinsteiger a year earlier have been used as examples of a strategy Ratcliffe will no longer allow.
The outlet states that the 20-time English champions spent £115 million (R2.7 billion) on Casemiro and Varane together, and pay them a combined £700 000 (R16.6 million) in weekly wages.
