Man Utd set to smash transfer record as Mason Greenwood 'agrees permanent move'

Mason Greenwood is set to join Marseille in a £27million deal after verbally agreeing to the transfer, according to reports. The Manchester United outcast has given Marseille the green light to complete a swoop and is now expected to travel to France for a medical and to put pen to paper on his contract.

Greenwood returned to Carrington on the first day of pre-season last Monday to hold brief but positive talks with club figures over his future.

He hasn’t trained with the United first team since January 2022 and was widely expected to leave on a permanent transfer this summer.

Marseille now appear almost certain to be Greenwood’s next club after reaching a significant breakthrough in their attempts to lure him to the Stade Velodrome.

According to The Athletic, Greenwood has approved the transfer a week after Marseille reached an agreement over a deal with United.

The Red Devils will receive a £23.4m fixed fee and potentially £3.4m in add-ons, plus a significant share of any future sale.

Greenwood could complete his switch this week if his medical goes to plan, boosting INEOS’ transfer kitty for further arrivals after Joshua Zirkzee.

United confirmed the £35m signing of Zirkzee on Sunday, with that fee spread across three years to allow more flexibility this summer.

A new centre-back is expected to be the next arrival. There is hope that Leny Yoro will opt for United over Real Madrid after Lille accepted a £52m offer earlier this month.

Erik ten Hag is also keen on a new central midfielder, but any move may depend on Casemiro’s future at Old Trafford amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Greenwood’s exit will open up new possibilities in the transfer market, given his status as an academy graduate means the £27m fee would enter the books as pure profit.

It would also be a new record in terms of profit in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, currently held by Dean Henderson after his £20m move to Crystal Palace last summer.

Marseille can offer Greenwood an opportunity for a fresh start after spending last season on loan at Getafe, scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances.

The 22-year-old reportedly generated heavyweight interest with his performances, including from Lazio and other clubs in Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

He appears to be Marseille-bound, though, ending over 15 years as a United player in a deal that suits all parties.

Greenwood will work under former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi, who has already stressed he would defend any of his players as if they were “his sons.”