Two Premier League clubs enquire about signing Mason Greenwood | OneFootball

There is active interest in signing Mason Greenwood from “at least two Premier League clubs” as well as a host of European sides, with Manchester United prioritising a permanent departure for the 22-year-old forward this summer.

Greenwood, currently on loan at Spanish side Getafe, has scored 10 times in 31 appearances in La Liga this season. These contributions, as well as his all-round play, have impressed a number of teams throughout the continent, as well as domestically.

While Getafe want to keep Greenwood at the club next year, be it through a permanent deal or another loan, he is attracting attention from Spain’s ‘Big Three’ and remaining at the Estadio Coliseum beyond the end of this season is unlikely.

James Ducker (The Telegraph) reveals sources in Spain contend Atletico Madrid are “keeping close tabs” on Greenwood, while Barcelona “would like to take [him] but do not have the financial capability to strike a deal.” Real Madrid have also been linked but are described as “unlikely” to make a pursuit.

Serie A sides Juventus and Lazio have both “registered interest” in signing Greenwood this summer, with Lazio having come close to agreeing a loan move last summer. It’s even been suggested United may seek to include the 22 year old as a “makeweight” in their pursuit of Juventus’ defender, Gleison Bremer.

Ducker also reveals there are multiple clubs in Germany interested in a deal for Greenwood.

United are believed to value their forward at the £40-£45 million mark, though the controversial situation which led to him leaving Old Trafford in the first place will likely be one interested clubs seeks to exploit to drive down the price.

And it’s this situation, which saw Greenwood arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, before the charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, which makes the enquiries into signing him by “at least two Premier League clubs” so surprising.

United’s executive branch were thrown into disarray after their plans to reintegrate Greenwood into the first-team squad were leaked last summer. The leaks were met with a level of public outrage which went far beyond the usual boundaries of football, with multiple celebrity fans, domestic violence charities and even Members of Parliament expressing their anger at United’s planned decision.

It forced the club into a panicked reversal, eventually settling on a loan outside of England as the best compromise for Greenwood to continue the next stage of his career, while remaining a Manchester United player.

It would be natural, therefore, to expect the reaction towards Greenwood joining another Premier League team to be comparable to that of playing for United again, at least in relative terms; which is why it’s shocking there are multiple sides in England’s top division actively pursuing the forward, given the certain backlash this move would entail.

The extent of the interest in Greenwood will be positive news for United, however, who are seeking to maximise as much income as they can from their forward and will be hoping a bidding war emerges for his services.

As an academy graduate, Greenwood’s potential departure would be a treasure trove from a Financial Fair Play (FFP) perspective as his sale would constitute “pure profit on the books”. With United set to be limited with their budget this summer, outgoing transfers will be as important as any incoming ones for INEOS in their first transfer window at the helm at Old Trafford.

And it’s for these combined reasons – Greenwood’s legal troubles and the club’s financial pressures – that Ducker reveals United’s focus has been “firmly  on exploring the options around a permanent sale.” However, if they do not feel a suitable offer arrives, they will also consider a “loan with an obligation to buy clause”.

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