Revealed: The three players Man Utd will release to free up £500,000 a week in wages

James Shearman

• 30 Mar 2022 10:27 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United plan to free up £500,000 a week in wages by letting go of three members of the first-team squad.

The savings are absolutely necessary for the Red Devils as the funds will be used to offer Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw new long-term contracts.

Fernandes has reportedly agreed to sign a five-tear deal on £240,000 a week, running until the summer of 2027.

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Meanwhile, discussion over a new deal for Shaw are expected to take place in the coming weeks.

The England left-back's existing contract is up at the end of next season, with United desperate to extend his stay despite a poor 2021-22 season by his standards.

Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed these plans on social media.

''Bruno Fernandes new deal will be completed in the coming days - talks with Luke Shaw will take place soon,'' he said.

So, who will be the three players to make way for the pair's lucrative contract extensions?

Man Utd to release three expensive players

Man Utd have no plans to extend the stays of three first-team players - all of which have been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Ralf Rangnick.

''Manchester United have no intention to open talks for Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata's contract extensions,'' Romano added. ''The plan has not changed, as of today.''

Lingard's release will go down as a poor piece of business by the United hierarchy, not because he deserves a new deal, instead that they could have sold him last summer for upwards of £20 million.

In fact, Newcastle would have taken the midfielder for around £10m in the January window, although Mason Greenwood's absence may have had a part to play in keeping him around.

Cavani, who is on £250,000 a week, has little use to Rangnick following the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, despite an impressive debut season at Old Trafford.

He is looking for a return to Spain this summer, with one more move to a team in European competition in him before the end of his career.

Juan Mata, on £160,000 a week, is likely to make the same trip, having spent over a decade in England since leaving Valencia for Chelsea in 2011.

Again, Mata, at 33 year of age, should have the ability to play one or two further years at the highest level, but is not part of United's future.