Man United need a summer shake-up to refresh a squad that is miles off competing for the top prizes with EIGHTEEN players – and under-fire Erik ten Hag – on the chopping block

Manchester United‘s penalty shootout FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry City brought more questions than answers – both in terms of Erik ten Hag and his players. 

This has been a season riddled by mistakes on and off the pitch for United and with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team now assuming control of football operations, a summer shake-up feels inevitable.  

United are looking to raise £100million through player sales and for some shown the door that will mean accepting a sizeable loss on their initial transfer outlay.

Ratcliffe and the new football operations team know it’s not a quick fix and while everyone they don’t want cannot be moved on in one window, if United are to return to contending for the biggest prizes, too many in this squad won’t cut it. 

Mail Sport runs through Manchester United’s squad to work out who stays and who goes… 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) watched Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final alongside Avram Glazer (left)

GOALKEEPERS

Andre Onana – STAY

Comfortably been one of United’s best players in the back end of this season. He looks to have finally settled and put a nightmare start to life in Manchester behind him. He’s going absolutely nowhere after joining last summer.

Altay Bayindir – STAY

Under contract until 2027, with the option of a further year, Bayindir’s future is very low down the priority list this summer. 

He is naturally frustrated at his lack of opportunities, playing just once against Newport County in the FA Cup, and there is bound to be interest from Turkey this summer.

Insiders routinely talk up how talented he is and United should rebuff any approaches.

Altay Bayindir will be frustrated at having only made one appearance for United this season

Tom Heaton – GO

The 38-year-old has been a valuable asset to have in the dressing room and it was a boost internally when he elected to extend for another year last summer. But now feels like the time to separate as United should look to promote a young goalkeeper into the first team group.

DEFENDERS

Victor Lindelof – GO

It is no secret in agent circles that United are in the market for two young centre backs this summer and that means departures are needed.

Lindelof is out of contract in 2025 and rather than see him leave for nothing, United should be seeking a buyer to help boost the coffers as they eye £100m in total player sales this summer.

Victor Lindelof could be moved on amid a reshuffle of centre backs at the club this summer

Harry Maguire – STAY

Another of those entering the final 12 months of his contract, Maguire perhaps holds more valuable for a sale than Lindelof.

But he’s been dependable for Ten Hag this season and has shown he’s good enough to stick around.   

Deserves an immense amount of credit for how he’s turned his Man United career around when all hope looked lost.

Lisandro Martinez – STAY

The Argentine centre back has been blighted by injuries this season – but there is no doubt he’s the most talented of his position at the club when fit. Under contract until 2027, he’s staying put.

Tyrell Malacia – STAY

Hasn’t played all season with fans totally perplexed at his extended absence. United will look for one new full-back this summer and they have a decision to make if that’s on the left or right. Will likely get another shot to prove himself whether Ten Hag is the manager or not.

Raphael Varane – GO

There have been so many games this season where Varane has been United’s stand-out defender and worth a new deal. But the 30-year-old is on. £350,000-a-week and Ineos are keen to move away from the older big earners. Could well have played his final game for United now he’s out injured.

Raphael Varane is out of contract in June and currently looks unlikely to land an extension

Diogo Dalot – STAY

Has really taken a step forward this season and continues to show green shoots of development. His United career looked to have stalled when he was loaned out to AC Milan but he’s comfortably first choice right back now.

Luke Shaw – STAY

When fit he’s Man United and England’s best left back option, but reliability is an issue when it comes to Shaw.

Nonetheless, United have far bigger problems to solve this summer than the future of Luke Shaw. Should be in no jeopardy of being moved on.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – GO

Entering the final 12 months of his contract this summer, there is an argument to be made that United are better served cashing in this time round.

Wan-Bissaka has had to make do in an unorthodox left back role given the form of Dalot and he endured a miserable FA Cup final there. Could be used as a potential makeweight with Crystal Palace if United want to pursue Michael Olise.

Brandon Williams – GO

Out of contract in the summer, letting Williams go is one of the easiest moves of the window.

Sent on a season-long loan to Ipswich Town, Williams hasn’t featured for them since December and has instead been mired by a legal case.

Williams, who has 51 appearances in United’s first team, will stand trial for dangerous driving next year after he denied charges levelled against him last week.

Jonny Evans – GO

The Northern Irishman arrived in the summer in what felt a desperate move for defensive reinforcements, but he’s proven a useful asset on and off the pitch. Nonetheless, the 36-year-old is out of contract in the summer and an extension appears unlikely with a squad shake-up planned.

Jonny Evans has been useful to Ten Hag but it would be a surprise if he landed a new contract

Alvaro Fernandez – GO

The 21-year-old started the season on loan in Spain with Granada before that was cut short and he was shipped off to Benfica on loan in January.

The Portuguese side have a €6million (£5.2m) option to buy in the summer but given his up-and-down loan spell, where he has not been a consistent starter, it remains up in the air.

Speaking recently, Benfica boss Roger Schmidt recently suggested no decision has yet been made.

‘The situation is clear, he is on loan and there is the option of him staying at Benfica,’ he said. ‘It’s an open process. He hasn’t had much playing time, because Aursnes has played well, but he is a talented player and there is an option for him to stay.’

If Shaw and Malacia both remain, his route to the first team at Old Trafford seems a no-go.

Willy Kambwala – STAY

One of the bright spots to emerge through the academy this season, Kambwala won’t be going anywhere this summer. 

Yes, he struggled down at Bournemouth, but he impressed against Liverpool and is still raw. Club will be looking into an extension as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Willy Kambwala (right) has plenty of learning to do but looks a future star in United’s defence

MIDFIELDERS

Sofyan Amrabat – GO

There is no way United trigger their option to buy Amrabat from Fiorentina this summer after a thoroughly underwhelming loan spell.

A number of high profile errors, coupled with loss of form and injuries, have seen him fall out of contention and the Moroccan needs a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Mason Mount – STAY

Probably the unluckiest player at Old Trafford this season given he’s spent most of it watching from the sidelines.

Ten Hag made him his No 1 target to bolster midfield and they paid a premium £55m to get him. Yet, Mount has managed a total of just 674 minutes this season. He’ll be integrated as a key piece next season.

Bruno Fernandes – STAY

Most talented player in the team and the captain who plays through any knock and niggle to stand up and be counted. United need to do a better job of putting top quality players around him so he doesn’t have to try and do everything.

Christian Eriksen – GO

Entering the final 12 months of his contract this summer, it is in everyone’s interests for Eriksen to leave for an opportunity elsewhere.

He spoke in a recent international break that he has been frustrated at such limited game-time, but when he does play the pace of games exposes his shortcomings at this point in his career.

Amad Diallo – STAY

Another who has been starved of opportunities, Diallo may well be considering his future and what comes next. United should, however, look to make the Ivorian a much more prominent player in 2024-25. Fans are crying out for him to get more chances.

Amad Diallo has struggled for chances but has shown flashes of his quality in recent weeks

Casemiro – GO

Has been met with strong criticism throughout this topsy-turvy campaign and an exit looks to be in everyone’s interests, much like with Eriksen.   

Saudi Arabia has been mooted as a potential landing spot for the former Real Madrid superstar.

Facundo Pellistri – GO

If they elect to keep hold of Diallo it will be Pellistri that is the young winger shown the door. United chiefs won’t want to leave themselves short, but the 22-year-old hasn’t produced when he has played to suggest he can be a reliable long-term option if they are to return to competing for the biggest prizes.

Donny van de Beek – GO

An unsuccessful loan spell in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt has not done much to help restore some value to the Dutch midfielder.

Van de Beek has struggled under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and now Erik ten Hag. His United career has looked over and done with for a while.

Kobbie Mainoo – STAY

One of the breakout youngsters in the entire Premier League this season. The 19-year-old has shown immense composure in the face of panic around him from experienced team-mates. Technically sound and has a chance of cracking England’s squad for Euro 2024. A key foundational piece for United’s future.

Kobbie Mainoo, 19, has emerged this season to be one of the first names on the team-sheet

Scott McTominay – STAY

Looked set to be pushed out of the door last summer with West Ham pursuing him, but he stayed and wanted to fight for his place. Scored his 10th goal of the season at Wembley on Sunday and has shown enough to suggest he is well worth keeping hold of.

Dan Gore – GO

A disastrous loan spell at Port Vale saw the 19-year-old spend most of it back at United recovering.

With his deal up this summer, it’s time for Gore to find a new home where he can get regular first team minutes.

Hannibal Mejbri – GO

Bypassed by a younger Mainoo, 21-year-old Hannibal has seen his stock fall dramatically while on loan at Sevilla.

The LaLiga side appear very unlikely to activate the £17m option they have to sign him after his loan and he is expected to head back to United back to square one. Too talented to be relegated to the shadows at Old Trafford and should go.

Omari Forson – STAY

United are still hopeful of keeping hold of the 19-year-old and agreeing a new deal, with his current one expiring this summer.

Forson looked bright during his FA Cup semi-final cameo and has become a fixture in first team squads in recent months. The contract stand-off hinges on whether United can offer him enough games.

Clearing out some deadwood should hopefully clear a pathway for him.

STRIKERS

Anthony Martial – GO

Miraculous, really, that he’s lasted nine years at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho wanted him sold when he was in charge and Ten Hag could only laugh recently when quizzed by Mail Sport on if he’d play again before the season is out.

Contract expires in the summer and an extension seems highly unlikely.

Anthony Martial has been at Old Trafford for nine years but finds himself a free agent in June

Marcus Rashford – GO

It spoke volumes that as footage surfaced of him limping through the mixed zone at Wembley, thousands upon thousands of fans on social media expressed their relief.

This has been a backwards step of a season from Rashford whereby his work-rate and desire have been called into question.

Ten Hag was bullish recently that Rashford’s lucrative new contract, worth £325,000-a-week and running through to 2028, was a sign he’s going nowhere. But the inescapable feeling is that a parting of ways may be in everyone’s interest. 

Rasmus Hojlund – STAY

The £72million striker showed in his mid-season purple patch that he can be lethal when he is both getting chances and his confidence is sky high.

United need to get a more experienced centre forward in this summer to take the goalscoring pressure off Hojlund a touch, though.

Alejandro Garnacho – STAY

Like Hojlund, Garnacho has the capability to be a key foundational piece in this side for years to come. 

He’s still got some maturing to do after his social media fiasco post-Bournemouth – but Garnacho has really stepped up this year and scored some huge goals in the process.

Jadon Sancho – GO

Reinvigorated at Borussia Dortmund, and now within two games of making the Champions League final, Jadon Sancho has rediscovered his love of football in Germany.

There is absolutely no prospect of him returning to United if Ten Hag remains in charge and while a new boss may want to give him a clean slate at Old Trafford, it is more likely that United look to capitalise on his uptick in Germany and cash in, albeit at far less than the £73m they signed him for in 2021. 

Jadon Sancho has rediscovered his love of football while out on loan at Borussia Dortmund

Mason Greenwood, meanwhile, is one of a number of players out on loan that could also depart

Antony – STAY

The £86m winger embarrassed himself with his goading antics at full-time against Coventry City – in which he cupped his ear in the direction of the Championship team – and after his own season which has been littered with disappointment it was all a bit rich. 

His goal in the dramatic 4-3 win over Liverpool was his highlight but he returned to his ineffective best at Wembley. The issue is, United are going to be struggling for suitors and will likely have to persist with the Brazilian. 

Mason Greenwood – GO

A solid season-long loan at Getafe has taken Greenwood out of the spotlight and while there have been some whispers of potentially being reintegrated at Old Trafford, Greenwood needs to depart and embrace a clean slate elsewhere.

It is understood that United are working on that assumption that Greenwood will be sold this summer and, should that be the case, there would be no shortage of offers from clubs in the Premier League and across Europe.