Manchester United financial results help explain change in transfer strategy under Erik ten Hag

There was a time not so long ago when Manchester United fans wanted to see Alvaro Fernandez and Hannibal Mejbri as valuable parts of Erik ten Hag's senior squad at Old Trafford, but it's become clear this month their futures lie away from the club.

For football fans, there is nothing quite so exciting as seeing an academy graduate come through the ranks and no club has as a history as glittering as United's when it comes to youth development. Only last week Ten Hag named 12 academy graduates in a 21-man squad at Wigan, a dozen which included two elder statesmen who have returned to the place where it all began for them, in Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans.

But since Ten Hag has come in there has been a noticeable shift in the approach to the academy and more players than ever before are departing the club. Fernandez and Hannibal, two players once tipped to make the breakthrough at first-team level, are just the latest examples.

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Spanish left-back Fernandez has joined Portuguese giants Benfica on loan, with an obligation to buy for £5.1million, plus a further £2.5million in potential add-ons, if he starts 50% of the club's games for the rest of this season. If that criteria isn't fulfilled, there is an option to buy for the same fee.

Hannibal has concluded a similar move to Sevilla, who can make it permanent for £14million, plus £3million in add-ons. In both cases, United have a buy-back option on the players and sell-on clauses inserted into the deals.

That is now a familiar pattern for young players leaving United and Ten Hag has granted academy graduates a move if he believes a