Where will Mason Greenwood next? English clubs ‘too scared’ to take him & Turkish teams eye up a bid as time runs out
ENGLISH clubs are apparently “too scared” to take Mason Greenwood – leaving him no option but to move to an overseas club.
They fear a publicity backlash if they loaned or signed the 21-year-old Manchester United striker, SunSport revealed tonight.
With domestic options exhausted, Besiktas are one of two Turkish clubs interested in the goalscorer.
There is no rush to get a deal done by the time the UK transfer window closes at 11pm on Friday because the Turkish deadline is not until September 15.
It means United have time on their hands to decide on Greenwood’s next steps after he “mutually agreed” to leave the club on August 21.
But he was left “devastated” by United’s decision.
And he is reluctant to move abroad because he does not want to leave his family having become a dad in July.
If United agree to cancel Greenwood’s contract before the transfer window closes, he will be able to move to any club in any league.
But the club could face a bill of up to £8million if they are unable to loan or sell £75,000-a-week Greenwood.
This is because he still has two years left to run on his contract, with the option of a further 12 months had the club wanted to take it up.
If United cannot mutually agree on cancelling Greenwood’s deal, his options are slim.
This is because most of Europe’s top leagues also shut their transfer windows on Friday.
FOOTBALLING BACKWATERS
In this scenario, Greenwood would be left with a ramshackle selection of tiny national leagues whose windows remain open.
These include: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Israel, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Turkey.
European move options are not the only ones to have dwindled for Greenwood.
There have been no inquiries from Saudi Arabia who have already hoovered up Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema this season.
Saudi clubs, including Steven Gerrard-managed Al-Ettifaq, had showed interest in Greenwood but no longer.
And a move to the Arabian Peninsula may have proved complicated as the Saudi Pro League who have the power to veto any deal thanks to the league’s centralised funding model.
The top 14 professional football clubs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are also government-owned.
‘TOO TOXIC’
Gerrard later suggested Greenwood was “too toxic” even for the Desert Kingdom.
With Saudi off the cards, Albania was floated as a potential destination for the 21-year-old.
An unnamed side in the relative footballing backwater were said to have expressed interest in Greenwood last week but this has not been confirmed.
Greenwood’s exit has forced United to change its transfer strategy – as they eye up Moroccan striker Sofyan Amrabat.
The World Cup star was on the Red Devils radar earlier this summer as boss Erik ten Haag had the prodigy in his squad at Utrecht between 2015 and 2017.
Fiorentina want £34million for the midfielder, 27, who has a year left on his contract.
Greenwood has been suspended since January 2022 following his arrest for attempted rape and sexual assault.
He was charged in October but all charges were dropped in February by the Crown Prosecution Service.
In a statement United said they “recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career” at the club.
They said his exit was the “most appropriate” result from the saga, adding: “We will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.”
The striker’s last game was on January 22, 2022, in a Premier League clash against West Ham – United won 1-0.
Greenwood became the youngest footballer to play for United in the Champions League when he took to the pitch aged 17 in 2019.
He netted 35 goals in 129 appearances for the club.