Many has this obsolete idea that the main cost of a transfer is the fee which was correct in the past but is not applicable for today's football. As a free agent Fellaini can ask for a salary of 6m-8m a year + a huge signing on fee of around 10m. That's prohibitive for any club whose interested at a player of his level.
Now lets say United renew his contract. We keep him for a year which would allow us to send the likes of Periera and TFM on loan were they will get an extra year of experience. Next year we sell him for 3m-5m and probably finance part of his salary which would then eat away part of the fee we get.
So what are the benefits? We're happy because we've now got two youths with the necessary experience to act as decent cover/competition for us. He's happy because he ensured a first team role a season before the Euro and finally there will be clubs available that can afford him.
We did something similar with Philip Neville. We renewed his contract on a decent salary, which gave us time to see how OShea would do in Philip role then we sold him to Everton for peanuts a year after
Complete bobbins. Fellaini is not getting a £10m signing on fee from anyone - that’s his problem he’s completely overestimated his worth. As much as I despise him, he’s probably a £20m player of under contract to a team like Everton or Wolves. So in respect of overall cost he’s at his cheapest now, today, not when he’s on a 2 year contract. It’s clear to see no one wants him.
Of course wages are one of the biggest factors, no-one is saying otherwise, but we are likely to be paying him a far higher salary than he could get elsewhere.
Now we are lumbered with a guy who is 4/5th choice midfielder on a big salary. No-one will match that, as proved by no one wanting him.