MASON Greenwood has been offered a lifeline by a top European club after being axed by Manchester United, reports claim.
The Red Devils are in a race against time to offload the 21-year-old by Friday before the transfer window closes at 11pm.
And Turkish giants Besiktas are now reportedly considering an approach for the young striker on a loan deal, according to the i.
The Süper Lig side have emerged as potential suitors for the forward and are said to be thinking about entering negotiations to restart Greenwood’s career.
Greenwood “mutually agreed” to leave United on August 21 following his arrest for attempted rape and sexual assault.
He was charged in October last year but all charges were dropped in February by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Read More in Football
Greenwood has not kicked a ball for Utd since January 2022 when he was suspended and it was decided this month that it would be best for all if his future was away from Old Trafford.
And Besiktas reportedly believe that an initial loan spell, of around six months, could be used to gauge public feeling around the striker.
Should the move prove successful, and Greenwood be welcomed by supporters, it’s thought Besiktas would be prepared to discuss a long-term move.
“Of course they have seen what has been said in the UK and further afield,” the source told the i.
Most read in Football
“People think that Turkey is an easy way out for Greenwood, as he will just be able to get on with his career away from the public eye.
“But clubs know that is not how it works. Reporters will come from England to follow his progress wherever he goes, we are sure of that.
“A short loan is appealing, though. If things go wrong, he will return to Manchester quickly. If he comes to Istanbul and scores goals straight away, the boos will quickly go.
“That is just the way that football works, however bad a taste that leaves. I think Turkish fans will accept him.”
It is also thought that the consent of the Besiktas women’s team would be needed for any move for Greenwood to be sanctioned.
If a move is not finalised before the transfer window closes, United may have to wait until the January transfer window opens.
Or they could face paying the £75,000-a-week striker around £8 million to cut his contract.
If Utd agree to cancel Greenwood’s contract before the transfer window closes, he will be able to move to any club in any league.
However, if the Red Devils cannot mutually agree on cancelling Greenwood’s deal, his options are slim.
This is because most of Europe’s top leagues also shut their transfer windows on Friday.
In this scenario, Greenwood would be left with a ramshackle selection of tiny national leagues whose windows remain open.
These include: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Israel, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Turkey.
The striker’s last game was on January 22, 2022, in a Premier League clash against West Ham, which United won 1-0.
Read More on The Sun
Reports of interest from Italy have also not been forthcoming, with no approaches made to United from any Serie A side as yet.
It was previously reported in June that AC Milan had been making inquiries about the striker.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
