Manchester United are on the verge of securing veteran goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer, a deal expected to trigger a reshuffle in the squad and potentially lucrative financial returns from past academy graduates.
The 35-year-old, who left Leeds United at the end of June, made 22 Premier League appearances last season, finishing as Daniel Farke’s first-choice goalkeeper. He is also Wales’ current number one. With Darlow’s arrival imminent, Altay Bayindir – understudy to first-choice Senne Lammens last term – is likely to depart. Radek Vitek, who impressed on loan at Bristol City, is also set to leave either on loan or permanently. Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick needed additional back-up given 40-year-old Tom Heaton has not played a first-team game since February 2023. Providing the deal goes through, Darlow will be involved in the pre-season campaign starting against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July.
“Man Utd close to signing Karl Darlow; could earn sell-on fees from Garnacho and Greenwood transfers.”
While United shore up their goalkeeping options, the club could be in line for a second lucrative sell-on windfall from Alejandro Garnacho’s potential Chelsea departure. Garnacho joined Chelsea from United for £40 million last summer but made little impression as the Blues stumbled to a 10th-place Premier League finish, missing out on European football entirely. The Press Association reports Chelsea are prepared to sell and will entertain offers in the region of £42.5 million. United shrewdly negotiated a 10% sell-on clause in the deal, entitling them to a cut of any future fee. Roma are reportedly eyeing the 22-year-old winger, with the Serie A side’s Champions League qualification potentially enabling a permanent transfer. Since Garnacho came through United’s academy – having joined from Atletico Madrid for just £100,000 in 2020 – the original £40 million fee was pure profit under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, a benefit that would apply to any sell-on income.
Similarly, Mason Greenwood could be on the move. Reports from Turkey suggest Fenerbahce are expected to snap up the forward for €40 million (£34 million) plus €2 million in bonuses. United sold Greenwood to Marseille in the summer of 2024 and negotiated a sell-on clause broadly understood to be between 40 and 50%. According to ESPN, both Fenerbahce and Atletico Madrid have struck agreements with Marseille. United could pocket €14 million (£11.9 million) if Greenwood opts for Turkey, or €15.7 million (£13.3 million) if he heads back to Spain, where he previously spent time on loan at Getafe while still at United. Greenwood has netted 48 goals in 81 appearances for Marseille, prompting former Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi to tip him for the Ballon d’Or.
With Darlow’s free transfer all but done and the potential for significant sell-on fees from Garnacho and Greenwood, United face a busy end to the window – but one that could strengthen both squad depth and financial flexibility.