Man United will be ruthless this summer with 17 PLAYERS allowed to leave to fund Erik ten Hag’s transfer plans… with Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Fred, Lindelof, McTominay and Martial all at risk
- Manchester United are prepared to cut a horde of players in a summer reconstruction
- Up to 17 players could get the chop to allow Erik ten Hag to invest in his team
- United’s humiliating departure from the Europa League has increased the need
Manchester United are set to get brutal this summer with up to 17 players at risk so Erik ten Hag can be financially supported for his rebuild at Old Trafford.
Thursday’s humiliating exit from the Europa League in Seville has only hardened attitudes within the club that they need to follow Manchester City’s example and raise money through sales to strengthen the team, while also balancing the books .
Incredibly, City made a £20m profit on deals last summer despite signing Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and Manuel Akanji. Departures included Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Oleks Zinchenko and a number of younger players such as Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia.
United are now looking at a similar operation across the team given the pressure all clubs face to fit within financial fair play rules.
Offers are being considered for high-profile internationals Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay, Fred, Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial, and right-back Aaron wan-Bissaka who cost £50 million from Crystal Palace.
Manchester United could cut up to 17 players this summer to fund Erik ten Hag’s rebuild
The Dutchman has work to do with the side after seeing his side dumped from the Europa League by Sevilla this week
No increased offer will be made to David de Gea, who expired his contract in the summer and whose performance in Seville weakened his case to secure a deal approaching his current £375,000 a week.
In a major change, United are also prioritizing ways to monetize players who are not deemed good enough in the long run to be part of their first-team future.
Brandon Williams and Anthony Elanga fall into that category while accepting that there is no point in keeping Eric Bailly or Alex Telles who see their futures elsewhere.
Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are out of contract and will leave, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson, an academy graduate currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, could also leave to represent pure profit for the club.
Decisions on many of those players were made earlier in the season, but United’s surprising decline in recent weeks could widen the net.
Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are among the players who can be moved up
While all 15 candidates are unlikely to leave in the same window, United are keen to raise money so that Ten Hag can spend on three players ready to start next season in the first team. one superstar, with centre-forward a priority for the manager.
There have been no discussions about an extension of the stay of Dutch attacker Wout Weghorst without a decision being made about his co-tenant Marcel Sabitzer.
Jadon Sancho’s form is also a concern, although his potential remains huge.
While United have had an improved first season under ten Hag and lifted their first trophy since 2017 by winning the Carabao Cup, recent results have underlined that there is still work to be done to close the gap to City and take on the challenge for big trophies.
The 7-0 defeat at Liverpool was one red flag, but the way they capitulated in Spain was perhaps an even bigger setback as they had genuine ambitions to win the Europa League, which would have gained automatic access to the Champions League .
United flew direct from Spain to London to prepare for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley. Behind the scenes, however, the driving and dealing is about to take on a new intensity