Boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken a tough stance on the latest transfer as United make a surprise sale of Dutch star Tyrell Malacia.

Manchester United can still sell players to clubs abroad, despite the Premier League’s January transfer window closing on the night of 3 February, allowing Dutch star Tyrell Malacia to sign for PSV Eindhoven on loan.

Manchester United have used Tyrell Malacia’s departure to send a message that they will no longer be soft on players. Malacia, 25, has completed a return to his native Netherlands, joining PSV Eindhoven on loan. But that was not the original plan for the left-back, who was set to join Benfica before the move collapsed.

Negotiations have reached an advanced stage, with Malacia looking for more playing time after manager Ruben Amorim deemed the Dutchman to be unfit for the job. United signed another left-back in the winter transfer window, paying £25m to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce.

After Dorgu was confirmed, Malacia was free to sign a loan deal with Benfica. The deal would have included an obligation to buy and that was the sticking point between the two clubs. According to the Mail, Benfica made a low offer that United deemed unacceptable. The Lisbon-based club were unwilling to meet the Red Devils’ demands and talks subsequently broke down.

It is hoped that United, who have often been criticised for letting players leave for cheap, will now negotiate more firmly. United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to make changes to balance the books at Old Trafford and selling players on better terms would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Malacia, who United signed for £13m in the summer of 2022, has now returned to the Netherlands. PSV will have to pay £8.3m to sign Malacia permanently at the end of the season, a fee Ratcliffe considers acceptable.

“I’m delighted to be here,” 25-year-old Tyrell Malacia told PSV’s in-house media after joining the club. “I’m finally playing football again. I’ve been recovering from a long injury, but I’m fit now and I know my time will come again.

In every difficult period there are positives and in this case I’ve become much stronger physically and mentally. I’m more patient, more mature, I know my body better and things like that. I’m ready to explode and hopefully win a lot of awards with PSV.” PSV director of football Earnie Stewart added: “We are delighted to welcome Tyrell Malacia, a player who can bring immediate value to PSV. Tyrell Malacia has a lot of experience at the highest level and is also a player with a lot of potential. We look forward to seeing him play.”