Ralf Rangnick believes that Manchester United need as many as 10 new signings this summer to start Erik ten Hag’s rebuild.
When you take into account that five first team players are leaving at the end of June when their contracts come to an end, and with several players being frustrated with a lack of minutes, there is every chance that the number of Old Trafford outgoings could reach double figures.
With Ten Hag possibly undertaking a overhaul following United’s worst Premier League season, United in Focus have put together a team of Manchester United players who could leave the Theatre of Dreams this summer.
Manchester United players that could leave this summer
Dean Henderson
The 2021-22 campaign has been a write off for the one-time England international and he was on the back foot from the get go.
After suffering with a long bout of Covid-19, Henderson, who was hoping to challenge David de Gea, for the number one spot, had to watch on as the Spaniard return to his best form.
Henderson has made just three appearances this season, none of which have come in the Premier League, and with Newcastle ready to reignite their interest in the summer, the Manchester United Academy graduate may move on unless Ten Hag sees him as his number one.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Manchester United’s £50m right-back has regressed at an alarming rate and hasn’t kicked on since arriving from Crystal Palace in June 2019.
With Ten Hag likely wanting to replicate his total football philosophy, which saw him clinch three Eredivisie titles, at United, it’s hard to see where a tepid Wan-Bissaka fits into his plans.
The 52-year-old may believe he can be the man to fulfil Wan-Bissaka’s potential, but a return to the Eagles has been mooted, as has a move to Spain with Atletico Madrid, or Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Eric Bailly
Ever since signing a new contract with the Reds last April, things haven’t gone to plan for Bailly, and he now finds himself the fifth-choice centre-back at Old Trafford.
The Ivory Coast international hasn’t featured for the Red Devils in 2022 and barring a turnaround under Ten Hag, his six-year stay in Manchester could come to an end in the summer.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United admitted that extending Bailly’s contract was an error, but Manchester United have made a habit of making contract extension mistakes.
Phil Jones
It’s been great to see Jones return to the first team fold this season following his injury nightmare, but putting all sentiments aside, he’s one of many Manchester United players that could leave this summer.
He’s made five first team appearances this season and he may get a chance to say goodbye to the United fans on the last day of the season at Palace.
But his focus should be on joining a club where he can get regular game time.
Alex Telles
Ten Hag’s first Ajax signing was a South American left-back in Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico, and the Dutchman could see a role at United in Telles.
But the Brazilian international has been a liability defensively in the closing stages of the season and the rigours of the Premier League look to have caught up with him.
Signed for £13.6m by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Porto man has great delivery from the left, but defensively he looks out of his depth.
And with Brandon Williams returning from a season-long loan in the top-flight, Ten Hag faces a difficult decision in the left-back area.
Paul Pogba
The World Cup winner looks set to leave Manchester United as a free agent for the second time in his career following his move to Juventus in 2012.
After re-signing Pogba for a world-record £89m under Jose Mourinho in 2016, the move hasn’t worked out and the Reds haven’t won a trophy since the Frenchman’s first season back in Manchester.
The 29-year-old will likely flourish elsewhere, but it’s time for all parties to move on.
Nemanja Matic
Manchester United are very much missing a prime Matic to dominate and patrol the midfield, but the Serbian will call time on his United career this summer.
The former Chelsea man opted against extending his stay for a further year and he’ll likely continue his playing career in one of Europe’s major leagues.
Juan Mata
The peculiar decision to extend the Spaniard’s contract by a further year last July was made even more bizarre given his lack of action this season.
Mata’s first Premier League appearance of the campaign came last month, and he’s gone on to feature in six of our last seven games, including back-to-back starts.
But the 34-year-old’s eight-and-a-half year stay at the Theatre of Dreams will come to an end this summer.
Jesse Lingard
After a galvanising loan spell at West Ham during the second half of last season, Manchester United resisted offers for the attacking midfielder in the summer with Solskjaer stating that Lingard would have an important role to play.
But United’s number 14 has remained on the periphery throughout the campaign and had a January loan move blocked following the sudden unavailability of Mason Greenwood.
The England international will leave United as a free agent and will hope to force his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England side ahead of this winter’s World Cup.
Anthony Martial
Despite arriving in Seville to much fanfare, Martial’s loan move with the La Liga giants hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Struggling with niggling injuries, the Frenchman’s time in Spain has fizzled out and he has scored once in 12 games.
The former Monaco man will return to United for pre-season and will have a conversation with Ten Hag to see where they both stand on his future.
But his underwhelming spell at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium will have done little to convince potential suitors that he is a player to pursue this summer.
Edinson Cavani
After being convinced to stay in Manchester for a further season, Cavani then saw the Reds bring home Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Uruguayan has been riddled with injuries during his second campaign in English football and he has scored just two goals this season.
After playing in Italy, France and England, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told FIVE that he believes El Matador will move to La Liga as a free agent, and experience another of Europe’s top five leagues.