Manchester United will listen to offers for defensive trio

Manchester United fans eager to see players come and go this summer.

The problem fans face right now is that United have announced that up to eleven players will leave as a result of expiring contracts, but it’s June 22 and we have yet to make a single signing.

It’s obvious that Frenkie de Jong is the priority target as United haggle with Barcelona over a preferred transfer fee. Reports throughout the night suggest that the Catalan outfit will hold out for a £86m guaranteed fee.

New manager Ten Hag is likely to commit to other targets after De Jong’s potential deal because he will then have a better idea of how much he has left to spend this summer.

United will also look to sell some players that Ten Hag wishes to move on.

According to the Daily Mail, United will look to sign a new centre-back if they can offload defensive trio Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe this summer.

Fans will hope this doesn’t mean Ten Hag won’t get a new defender if they fail to sell all three because that will be a huge ask.

Especially when United have an awful record when it comes to selling players.

Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler claims Harry Maguire will stay at United, despite his role as captain being in doubt: “New manager Erik ten Hag plans to keep him as one of his central defenders alongside Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof, even though the captaincy now appears to be up in the air.”

The Red Devils have been linked with a number of centre-backs, including Jurrien Timber and Lisandro Martinez.

SN’s verdict

Over the past year, the players United are trying to sell this summer got very few minutes on the pitch.

Bailly was frozen out of the squad by Ralf Rangnick, Jones was happy to get a run out away at Anfield, while Tuanzebe endured two poor loan spells at Aston Villa and Napoli.

I don’t think any of the trio should be starting games next season, so I don’t think we’ll miss having any of them as Ten Hag begins life as manager at United. He will want to bring change and the likes of Jones are just taking a wage at United these days.

Out of the three defenders for sale, I’d argue only Bailly has any real value in the transfer market but all three will be considered risks for potential suitors because of their injury records and wage demands.

John Murtough has his work cut out for him.

More Stories Axel Tuanzebe Eric Bailly Manchester United Phil Jones