Alongside Paul Pogba, there are five other Manchester United first team players who as it stands, are set to leave the club on a free transfer in June.
The World Cup winner could be out of action until the New Year after picking up a thigh injury whilst away on international day with France.
The club faces the predicament in January of whether to hold onto Pogba, who they paid £89m (BBC Sport) to resign from Juventus in 2016, or to take a cut-price for the 28-year-old, if a lucrative new contract at the club isn’t agreed with him and his agent Mino Raiola.
This writer’s prediction is that if the club got offered anywhere near as half the money the club paid to resign Pogba, for the 28-year-old in January, then a deal may be agreed.
It’s highly unlikely that the Glazers and Ed Woodward would take anything less than £20m to £30m for United’s number six, but that would then run the risk of us losing him on a free for a second time.
However, if we remarkably turned our form around and we find ourselves in the title race, in the FA Cup fourth round and in the last 16 of the Champions League, Pogba will likely want to stay at Old Trafford for the remainder of the campaign and fight for the chance to win big trophies.
But who are the other players out-of-contract in June 2022….
Jesse Lingard
With no starts to his name beyond a solitary Carabao Cup appearance, it’s highly unlikely that Lingard will sign a new deal at the club.
After reigniting himself on loan at West Ham during the second half of last season, United’s number 14 is probably going to want to seek a January move to ensure he gets much-needed game time elsewhere.
Although United have a squad packed with attacking talent, it would be a surprise to see the club sanction the sales of both Lingard and Pogba in January.
Edinson Cavani
It was a great piece of business convincing the Uruguayan to stay in Manchester for another season, but there is no doubt the 34-year-old will head back home to South America once this season finishes.
United’s number 21 has struggled with injuries and that has vindicated the club’s decision to resign Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.
Although it’s a joy to see both Ronaldo and Cavani on the pitch together now in the twilights of their career’s, you cannot help but think what it would been like having the pair at Old Trafford in their primes.
Juan Mata
All sentiments aside, it was a baffling decision to offer Mata a new deal at the club, when there is several talented youngsters knocking on the first team door.
After his Carabao Cup appearance against the Hammers, it would be a real surprise to see Mata play for United again, unless it’s a swansong appearance after confirming he won’t be extending his eight-year stay at the club.
If and when he retires, Mata could well be offered an ambassador role at the club.
Tahith Chong
Currently back at the club after suffering a freak injury in Birmingham City training, which has ruled him out for up to five months, United do have the option of automatically triggering a one-year extension to the Dutchman’s contract, according to Transfermarkt.
It’s likely that United will take up that option and if Chong makes a speedy recovery, he will finish the season back on loan at St Andrew’s.
Lee Grant
If offering Mata a new deal seemed baffling, offering Grant one was just nonsensical.
The 38-year-old hasn’t played for the first team for nearly two years when he made his only start in the trip to Astana, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave several debuts to a number of the club’s academy graduates.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Grant get offered a new one-year deal, but it would make more sense to just offer him a goalkeeping coach position, instead of having him on the playing staff roster.
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