Sir Jim Ratcliffe could sanction first shock transfer from Man Utd to Nice

Nice, who is owned by incoming Manchester United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are reportedly interested in signing one of the club's players on loan.

INEOS head honcho Ratcliffe agreed on a deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in United on Christmas Eve and he'll be heading up football operations at Old Trafford.

United are currently seventh in the Premier League and Financial Fair Play restrictions mean Erik ten Hag will need to offload players before adding to his squad.

Those don't necessarily have to be permanent transfers. David Ornstein of The Athletic has explained United could sanction player loans to temporarily shift them off the wage bill.

Among the players who could depart are winger Facundo Pellistri, with Ornstein confirming the French outfit's interest during an appearance on The Five Insider.

He told former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand: "Now that the club are together with INEOS, they'll have to strategise if they can do some more [transfers]. I don't think the finances allow them to do much more.

"I understand there is interest in [Facundo] Pellistri from Nice among a number of other clubs. That doesn't do a great deal for the finances but it does create a bit of space in the squad."

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Pellistri joined the club from Uruguayan outfit Penarol after being convinced by former United striker Diego Forlan to make a move to the Premier League.

The 22-year-old has never established himself in the first-team and failed to impress during two separate loan spells with Deportivo Alaves in La Liga.

United have already managed to reduce the number of players in their squad two days into the transfer window.

Donny van de Beek joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan on Monday, while Sergio Reguilon, who arrived on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, will return to his parent club after United decided to activate a break clause in the deal.

When asked about potential business in January, Ten Hag pointed to the amount of players United have missing through long-term injury.

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He named Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Mason Mount as a trio who will help bolster the squad when they return.

Ten Hag said: "The current squad, I am happy. As we get our players back, we have a good squad.

"A lot of the way it went in the first season, the reasons behind that, were because many players were not available.

"I am sure when all players are on board it looks different, Casemiro, Martinez, Mount, we will be much stronger after the window."