Manchester United are raising standards with eight player sales

Scott McTominay ended the 2022-23 season at Old Trafford by posing for a picture with his shy niece by the corner flag. Four months later, one of his closest relatives was absent in the family box for McTominay's Herculean heroics in added time against Brentford.

Manchester United's willingness to sell McTominay last year went down badly with his family members, for whom watching McTominay has become their predominant pastime in the past seven years. McTominay's father, Frank, has travelled on European aways with Harry Maguire's and Luke Shaw's parents while McTominay's girlfriend, Cameron, was in the United States for last month's pre-season tour.

McTominay skipped the mixed zone in San Diego, as is his wont, but lingered to high-five Tom Heaton's sons and say hello to his family who followed United from Los Angeles to South Carolina. United will soon be an academy graduate lighter.

The Premier League must amend the profitability and sustainability rules to deincentivise selling academy graduates. Chelsea's torrid treatment has not stopped at Conor Gallagher. Trevoh Chalobah is another outcast.

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United are poor sellers and McTominay is a sellable asset. Even after his pivotal performances in a career-best campaign that ended with a start in the FA Cup final, United have not hesitated in welcoming prospective buyers to their stall.

United were prepared to sell McTominay last year and should have accepted the £30million West Ham United offered. McTominay was inexplicably valued at £40m, despite starting 16 games out of 62 in the 2022-23 season. He will be sold for just over £25m.

His future at United was safeguarded by