Manchester United are expected to undergo a summer of significant overhaul following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover of 25% of the club earlier this year. Having already recruited several experts in key positions in the footballing structure such as new Chief Executive and former Manchester City CEO Omar Berrada and Technical Director Jason Wilcox, the INEOS chief, alongside trusted INEOS higher ups Jean-Claude Blanc and Sir Dave Brailsford, will pay as much attention to the players that will be leaving as those that will be coming in as they set about beginning to rebuild the club in their first transfer window.
Let’s take a look at some of those likely to be on the chopping block for the Red Devils, as well as their contributions to the club over the years.
Players Set To Leave As Summer Of Change Commences
Confirmed Departures
Raphael Varane
The former Real Madrid legend joined the club in the summer of 2021, along with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. Whilst the World Cup winner and four-time Champions League winner often looked imperious when on the field, repeated muscular injuries limited the Frenchman to 95 appearances over three seasons at Old Trafford.
He will depart with the goodwill and grace of the Red Devils’ faithful after some stellar performances when fit. Varane’s next club is as yet unclear.
Anthony Martial
We all remember his debut, don’t we? Liverpool at home, Cutting in from the left, making Martin Skrtel look like Martin Static, Martin Tyler’s commentary.. ANTHONY MARTIAL, YESSSSSSSSSSSS!
Sadly, that was probably the peak of the Frenchman’s Manchester United career. 90 goals and 47 assists in 317 total appearances is a half-decent return for a career mired by injury and subsequent peaks and troughs in form. His best season was 2019/2020, registering 23 goals in 47 games as the Red Devils. Martial is now a free agent and is off the books at Manchester.
Brandon Williams
A mainstay in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first full term in charge (2019/2020), academy product and local lad Williams has since found his path to the first team blocked. Loans at Norwich City and Ipswich Town have allowed the 23-year-old to maintain some semblance of regular football, and there is no doubt there is a promising career in the game ahead for him, probably at a lower level.
Potential Outgoings
Casemiro
After a stellar first season anchoring Erik ten Hag’s midfield following his £70 million arrival, Casemiro has become the living embodiment of the mantra that Real Madrid do not let good players go without good reason.
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At 32 years old, the Brazilian has suffered a nightmare season, looking increasingly slow, lethargic and like someone whose next move will be to a much slower league. Whilst it is not out of the question that he stays and rediscovers some semblance of form with more athletic legs alongside him, rumours of a transfer to Saudi Arabia do not feel far-fetched based on his apparent physical decline this past year.
Jadon Sancho
After a very public spat with the manager at the start of the 2023/2024 season, Jadon Sancho was banished from the first team and subsequently sent back on loan to former club Borussia Dortmund. If Ten Hag does remain in charge next term, it’s hard to imagine a way back for the Englishman if, as expected, he chooses not to issue a public apology for the events of the last campaign. Dortmund would be at the front of the queue for his services.
With 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances since his £75 million move from Germany to Old Trafford, Sancho, for whatever reason, has been unable to replicate the electric form that prompted such an outlay, a victim of the club’s instability and ever-changing tactical philosophy through various coaches. A separation could be beneficial for all parties.
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These are just some of the potential outgoings for Manchester United this summer, with others such as Omari Forson already confirmed to be leaving the club. With players such as Donny van de Beek not in the manager’s plans, the exit door at Carrington could be just as busy as the entrance in months to come.
