Manchester United are operating this summer with renewed ruthlessness brought about by some tough decisions on contracts.
The likes of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial were released with no emotion coming into the picture because their contribution didn’t match their wages.
Other, more younger players, like Shola Shoretire, had to find new clubs after they failed to realise their potential at Old Trafford.
United will be faced with making some of these calls again next year as there are multiple stars whose contract expires next summer, in 2025.
Here is the verdict on their fate as it stands-
(Note: Players who have a one-year club option aren’t included since it takes the contract effectively to 2026, thereby lessening the urgency to decide their future. These are- Facundo Pellistri, Scott McTominay, Amad, and Harry Maguire)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka– Sell
This is a player on whom the verdict is already out from the club itself, if reports are to be believed. United are actively trying to offload him to secure Noussair Mazraoui’s signing, a player more suited to Erik ten Hag’s style of play.
United will likely be taking a big loss on the £50 million they paid for him in 2019 but this is the last chance to get any fee for him at all, as he can negotiate a free exit in the winter.
The verdict on him would have been “release next year” because he’s one of two natural senior right-backs in the team. Therefore, letting him leave on a free transfer would have been better instead of selling him now.
But if Mazraoui is coming in, then Wan-Bissaka’s sale effectively financing his transfer is a good outcome for United.
Victor Lindelof – Sell
This is another on whom the verdict has changed because he is one of the few players who can fetch United a respectable fee.
If Lindelof is sold now for a fee in the region of £15-£20 million, it will immediately open the door to signing someone like Matthijs de Ligt, a no-brainer upgrade.
As it stands, United have options at center-back especially after Jonny Evans’ contract renewal (more on him coming). They can afford to let Lindelof go instead of risking a free transfer next summer.
Christian Eriksen – Release next year
The Dane arrived on a free transfer ahead of Ten Hag’s first season and blew past all expectations before a serious injury in the winter halted his momentum.
He hasn’t been able to find those levels again in the year-and-a-half since, leading to calls to sell him this summer. However, if the reported asking price for Eriksen has any truth to it, then keeping him this season as a rotational piece might be of more value.
He has shown that he is still the progressive passer and line-breaking threat from deep if the team can maintain possession. United’s style of play exposed his weakness brutally last year but in a dominant team, or when Ten Hag is rotating, he’ll be a crucial piece to call upon.
Hannibal – Sell
Hannibal arrived as a highly-rated capture before Brexit but hasn’t set the world alight, showing the same deficiencies in his game that he arrived with.
Multiple loans have failed and even though his spell at Birmingham wasn’t a complete write-off, he couldn’t build on it to leverage a first-team place at United.
Since then, the competition in midfield has further stiffened, with Kobbie Mainoo emerging as the first name on the teamsheet, Mason Mount’s signing, and Toby Collyer breaking out this season.
A Willy Kambwala-style deal, where United retain a sell-on clause and matching rights in favour of a lower fee upfront should suit all parties.
Jonny Evans – Release next year
It is a moot point to talk about Evans because he recently signed a new one-year contract which takes his deal to next year so he’s obviously not getting sold.
He started last season as an emergency backup and ended it with 30 appearances in all competitions, proving to be a steady hand during injury crises.
Add to that his veteran leadership and experience, and United thought it was a no-brainer to extend his deal for another year as they make the team younger.
If Evans is making 30 appearances this season again, something will have gone very wrong, so from a United POV, his getting released next year and potentially finding a coaching role at the club makes the most sense. He was getting ready to retire had he not received a new United contract anyway.
Tom Heaton – Release next year
Heaton is already in effectively an ambassadorial role at the club, valued for his presence in the dressing room and training rather than his contribution on the pitch. It is why United gave him a contract extension this summer.
He will turn 39 at the end of next year and would probably prefer a move into the backroom staff full-time but at this point, he has earned the right to decide for himself.
One would presume that if he is happy to continue in a playing capacity, United would gladly extend his contract by another year too. He is a homegrown player who helps with registration, and a model professional who helps with the dressing room.
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