Man Utd confident clearing £80 MILLION off annual wage bill | OneFootball

Manchester United are determined to clear £80m off their annual wage bill this summer.

That's the amount the Old Trafford hierarchy plan to save by selling or releasing a mass of expensive, unwanted first-team talent, says the Daily Star.

The arrival of new boss Erik ten Hag from Ajax means a significant overhaul and rebuild of a team battling to finish sixth in the Premier League.

French midfielder Paul Pogba, on £275,000 a week, and Uruguayan hitman Edinson Cavani (£250,000) are the highest-paid Reds stars definitely departing. The pair are both free transfers as their current deals expire at the end of the campaign.

Other big earners out of contract and set to leave include Spanish playmaker Juan Mata (£175,000), Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (£140,000) and England international Jesse Lingard (£110,000). The rest of the ruthless cost-cutting will be completed through the sale of other names still under contract but surplus to Ten Hag's requirements.

That group consists of Anthony Martial (£250,000), Eric Bailly (£110,000). Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£90,000), Dean Henderson (£110,000) and Phil Jones (£80,000). That will clear the deck in terms of unwanted personnel for the new Dutch coach - and immediately create a cash boost for incoming transfers as it recoups £1.5m in wages every seven days.