Manchester United are low on funds to sign players this current transfer window, and one option is to sell stars to raise funds.
There are players in the squad who are not getting the game time they need, and Manchester United have to work out what the best decisions are to take.
Two of these players who have been tipped to leave, either by pundits or the press, are Harry Maguire and Anthony Elanga.
Let’s dig into the situations of both players and assess what Manchester United should do…
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023
Harry Maguire urged to leave
Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has led the calls for Harry Maguire to leave Old Trafford, after he was overlooked at the weekend against Wolves, with Luke Shaw preferred at the position.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: “If I’m Harry Maguire, I’m looking for a new club right now. This new manager is showing him he’s not going to be one of the top two centre-backs. I’d be telling my agent to go and find me a club where I can play regularly.”
The situation is not so simple, certainly not mid-season. Looking at the Wolves game in isolation, Maguire was still returning from illness, while Shaw had performed strongly there against Forest.
Maguire will get games at centre-back, even though it is fair to say he is fourth choice right now.
This isn’t a situation Maguire will want to persist – but it would also be a poor decision from him to quit the club at the first sign of adversity, when he is no longer first choice.
In the summer, there is a different conversation to be had. United and Maguire can amicably agree to part ways if his situation has not changed. He will want to retain his place as an England regular, and this means being a starter for his club.
Former England defender Stuart Pearce told talkSPORT he also believes Maguire should look for an exit this month.
Leaving mid-season is not easy, and it would be disruptive for Maguire to push for a move this month. As club captain, it would go down extremely poorly.
United will need Maguire over the course of this long season. If he were to go this month, he would not be replaced, so it makes no sense to entertain letting him leave.
The defender must focus on his football and attempt to prove to Erik ten Hag why he should be a starter; and if it doesn’t work out, then consider an exit in the summer. There should be no urgency on his part to leave the club.
Anthony Elanga tipped to leave
Anthony Elanga was making his first team breakthrough 12 months ago, however, it has not worked out so successfully.
Elanga has not scored a goal since February, and the Sweden international looks low in confidence.
The Mail report Everton are very keen on a deal for Elanga and have him as one of their priorities for this month, even if that’s just a loan deal.
Elanga has not started a Premier League game for United since September and does not have an important role under Erik ten Hag.
A loan deal could be sensible, as it would allow him to play regularly without United giving up on him totally.
The problem is United’s current lack of threat up front. An injury to Anthony Martial could be disastrous, as United don’t have many options after Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit.
Even if it is just a case of keeping Elanga as emergency cover, and to take the pressure off Martial and Marcus Rashford, this would be the safe call from United.
Erik ten Hag told the club website: “I know we have good players and I know a lot of clubs will have an interest in the players who are not so often playing for us, but we need the squad.
“We need the depth in the squad, and especially I would say in the frontline.”
The only way United should allow this loan deal to happen is if United are able to bring in another striker, and Jadon Sancho comes back firing on all cylinders.
If this doesn’t happen, then it doesn’t make sense to be so charitable to send Elanga out to help out another team’s attack.
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