MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly preparing to introduce a “Cristiano Ronaldo rule” which will see salaries limited to £200,000-a-week.
The Red Devils’ most recent annual wage bill was around £228m – the biggest in the Premier League.
Before Ronaldo’s departure to Al-Nassr, he was earning a staggering £480,000-a-week, while keeper David de Gea is still raking in £375k every seven days.
However, according to The Mail, chief executive Richard Arnold, director of football John Murtough and manager Erik ten Hag are set to employ a squad-wide pay cap in order to avoid a culture of jealousy in the dressing room.
And that means De Gea, who is out of contract this summer, will be offered a new deal in the region of £180,000-£200,000-a-week.
The Spanish keeper, who has been at Old Trafford since 2011, revealed last week his belief that talks with the club will end in a “good way”, but this new wage reduction could dampen that optimism.
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Bruno Fernandes signed a new five-year deal back in April and is believed to be earning within the pay bracket.
Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Casemiro are said to be on similar salaries.
And the Man Utd players have wage sanctions written into their contracts for failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Luke Shaw, whose deal expires in 2024, will reportedly be offered a wage packet in the same range.
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However, this self-imposed cap will make it difficult to tie down Marcus Rashford.
It was reported in the summer that Paris Saint-Germain were willing to pay the England international a staggering £850,000-a-week to bring him to the club.
That would more than quadruple his current weekly wage which stands at £200k.
United did trigger an extension in his deal earlier this season to keep him until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
But they will still be eager to secure a long-term contract given his recent form.
Rashford already has 13 goals and six assists in 24 appearances for Ten Hag’s side this season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
