Manchester United: Manchester United will be mildly pleased with the season that they have had this time around. They have been struggling ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left and haven’t quite remained at the apex of English and European football. This season though, Erik ten Hag has revolutionized the Red Devils and two more wins for them will ensure Champions League football too. But, to maintain the same level next season, changes are needed. A report states that Erik ten Hag is looking to ship out close to 9 players in the summer transfer window as the Dutchman looks to trim his squad for the upcoming season. Follow Manchester United Football Club LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
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With as many as nine players expected to depart the club this summer, Manchester United is prepared for a massive clear out. A lot of players are viewed as surplus to requirements as Erik Ten Hag looks to carry out his philosophy.
The United boss will be hoping to prevent Manchester City from replicating United’s 1999 Treble by defeating their local rivals in the FA Cup final in June. Manchester City are one point away from securing Champions League football and have already won the Carabao Cup. Here are the nine players Ten Hag might cut from his team this summer, although several players are still there from prior regimes.
Donny Van De Beek
When United spent £35 million on Van De Beek back in the summer of 2020, big things were anticipated. The Dutchman has only amassed two goals and two assists in his 60 games for the club, never really finding a place for himself in the United side. The midfielder struggled while on loan at Frank Lampard’s Everton last season as the Toffees just avoided the relegation zone.
Harry Maguire
Despite being the club captain, Maguire, 30, has had a miserable season at United after being benched. Ten Hag’s choice to drop Maguire as his first-choice center defender was brought about by the acquisition of Lisandro Martinez.
Ten Hag has instead opted to play Victor Lindelof or Luke Shaw as a makeshift centre-half to avoid playing the England international. He cost United close to £80 million when he signed from Leicester back in 2019 and United will be aiming to recoup as much as they can.
Anthony Martial
Martial was bought from Monaco for £39 m and was British football’s most expensive teenager in 2015. An impressive start to life at United saw him score on his debut after coming on as a substitute against bitter rivals Liverpool.
But, injuries have been his issue and he has found himself more on the sidelines than on the pitch. It seems as though Ten Hag has lost patience with the French striker now. With just one year remaining on his contract, the Red Devils will be looking to move him along.
David De Gea
De Gea, who was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2013, is currently United’s highest-paid player, bringing in a staggering £375,000 a week. In order to extend his stay at Old Trafford, the goalkeeper would reportedly have to accept a big salary drop. His lucrative contract expires in June.
But De Gea’s job as United’s starting goalkeeper is in jeopardy due to his philosophy of playing the ball out from the back and De Gea’s rising propensity for high-profile mistakes. De Gea may be allowed to depart for free this summer as a result of his need to accept a pay cut and concerns over his No. 1 position.
Scott McTominay
In all competitions this season, the United academy product has made 22 appearances, demonstrating to be a reliable player for Ten Hag when called upon. But after witnessing the revolutionary impact a world-class defensive midfielder in the calibre of Casemiro has had on their squad, United supporters will feel the Scot could be improved upon. Declan Rice of West Ham has been monitored by United due to rumours that he may have played his final match at the London Stadium.
Alex Telles
At the beginning of this season, United loaned Telles to Sevilla after losing patience with the left-back’s performance. Since joining United for £15.4 million in 2020 from Porto, the Brazil international has made 50 appearances in a United jersey. Despite contributing eight goals during his time at United, it is his defensive shortcomings that have led to his dismissal.
Eric Bailly
Bailly established himself as a favourite of Jose Mourinho’s after signing for £30 million in 2016. But a lot of things have changed since 2016 as persistent injuries have meant that he hasn’t played all that much. His contract expires next summer and United will be keen to get a fee for him if possible.
Wout Weghorst
This January, the Burnley loanee arrived at Old Trafford to improve United’s attacking options. The Dutch striker impressed United managers when on loan at Besiktas, netting nine goals in 18 games while in Turkey.
At United, he hasn’t been able to duplicate that, scoring just once in 24 games. Given his track record of scoring goals, it’s unlikely that United will make the change permanent.
Marcel Sabitzer
When the Austrian international moved to Bayern Munich in 2021, he was regarded as one of Europe’s brightest prospects. In order to fill in for an injured Christian Eriksen, the midfielder was brought in on an ad hoc loan in January.
Sabitzer has made 18 appearances this season, but he frequently gets these chances sitting on the bench. With Eriksen fit again and United’s rumoured interest in the likes of Declan Rice, United may not make the move permanent.
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