Manchester United are reportedly open to offers for Dan James in the current window as the club look to boost their transfer budget.

What's the story?

The Red Devils’ hierarchy are willing to sell the 23-year-old over the coming months if they receive an acceptable offer to sign him, according to ESPN.

It's claimed that the Glazer family have given manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a £100m transfer kitty this summer, but that figure could be topped up by funds raised by the departures of any unwanted first team players.

He's not good enough

James made a strong start to his United career, scoring three goals in his first four Premier League games for the Old Trafford outfit, but he has failed to build upon his early showings. The Wales international has only bagged six more goals since netting against Southampton in August 2019, often coming in for criticism for his poor final ball.

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent cast doubt over the speedster's ability earlier in the summer after he was linked with a move to fellow Premier League outfit Everton, telling Football Insider: “The only thing about Dan James at times, for me, he’s a little bit headless.

“He’s shown great potential when he first went to United; he played really well, scored a few goals, but at times he for me he’s fouled, or he shoots sometimes when he should pass it, he’ll pass when he should shoot.

“He’s got great pace, and I think he’d be a great addition in anyone’s squad, but when we talk about someone coming in and making a real difference and adding a lot of quality to whatever they’ve already got, I’m not quite sure."

With the ongoing pandemic continuing to have a serious impact upon football clubs' finances, selling lucrative fringe players is the easiest way to boost transfer budgets.

Therefore, Solskjaer must brutally axe the £16.2m-rated James, who hasn't been all that productive at Old Trafford, in order to finance moves for his top transfer targets ahead of the upcoming campaign.

The addition of Jadon Sancho and the imminent arrival of Raphael Varane will wipe out the Norwegian's reported £100m budget, so securing the sales of players like Phil Jones, Andreas Pereira and indeed James may be the only way to sign a new defensive midfielder or right-back this summer. In the greater scheme of things, the Welsh winger seems dispensable.

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