Erik ten Hag is planning to initiate the second phase of his Manchester United rebuild this summer, with several senior players set to be cut from the squad, according to reports.
Ten Hag oversaw an active first summer transfer window last year, with six senior stars departing on free transfers following the expiry of their contracts.
Additionally, a number of players were allowed to leave on loan and are set to return to the club this summer. It is, however, expected that they will be immediately placed on the transfer list.
In addition to United’s on-loan outcasts, there are current first-team regulars that run the risk of being axed by Ten Hag, including four players who started last night’s embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League.
According to the Guardian, a summer clearout headed by Ten Hag could see Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof all leave the club. As per the report, Scott McTominay and Fred are also players the manager is open to selling.
Donny van de Beek, Anthony Elanga, Brandon Williams, Alex Telles, Dean Henderson, Eric Bailly and Hannibal Mejbri are all reportedly also on the huge list of players who could see their stays at Old Trafford cut short.
It is, however, stated that Ten Hag will not be able to sell all of the aforementioned players as he will still be required to keep a squad capable of rotating.
It is unlikely that Maguire and Lindelof will both be sold without replacements being signed, especially considering there are five centre-backs on the list of potential outgoings.
Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones have not featured for the Reds this season and the defenders are both out of contract at the end of the campaign.
SN’s verdict…
After the game against Sevilla, United hero Paul Scholes argued that the defeat will have showed Ten Hag what he needs to do in the summer transfer market.
It’s increasingly difficult to argue against that after the latest collapse and in truth, Ten Hag will have known which players he can trust long before the trip to Andalusia.
It remains to be seen whether the club is able to offload some of their underperforming stars but if they do, it is expected that any funds generated will be added to Ten Hag’s transfer kitty.
Am really dissapointed with dis players,dey need to do more