Ineos plan to enforce wholesale changes at Manchester United this summer with several members of the first team set to depart.
The squad Ruben Amorim inherited was far from ideal, but most Manchester United fans would have hoped for a far better season after Erik ten Hag was sacked.
United are currently positioned 14th in the Premier League after a turbulent campaign, so the squad needs to improve this summer. Ineos are planning for a squad overhaul in the summer with up to 10 players that could depart Old Trafford.
That means pressure will be put on Ineos chiefs to back Amorim after United’s head coach was frustratingly limited to two additions in January, with Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven joining.
Amorim will plan for recruits who will take United to a level the club aspires to be, not mid-table in the Premier League and relying on the Europa League as a route into the Champions League.
He is also being tasked with picking the right players to let go.
Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton to leave Man Utd
Four United players could see their contracts expire at the end of the season, including Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen.
It is understood that part of Ineos cost-cutting strategy will impact the wages paid out to United’s first-team.
That means United’s chiefs need to cut the fringes of the squad and look at which players Amorim can dispose of at the end of the season.
According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, United have decided that they will not be renewing contracts for United veteran duo Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton.
Evans and Heaton are back-up options in the squad and have rarely been part of the matchday squad since Amorim became manager.
It remains to be seen what the future will hold for Evans and Heaton once they leave Old Trafford, should they retire or continue playing their football elsewhere.
Both Lindelof or Eriksen are likely to follow suit and be released this summer, but it would appear that nothing has been decided on that front yet.
When did Evans and Heaton last play for United?
Evans was given a new contract last summer after playing a key role in United’s 2023/24 campaign, especially in the FA Cup triumph over Man City.
But injuries have stopped him from making more than 12 appearances so far this season, and Heaton has not been called upon once.
Evans made his last appearance for United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham in December, whereas Heaton hasn’t featured between the sticks since January 2023 in the same competition.
There is no point keeping players who aren’t available to play regularly, especially when we need to shift players to make room for new recruits.
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