With 10 Premier League games remaining Sir Jim Ratcliffe has instructed Erig Ten Hag to offload six first team players in the Summer
Manchester United has little control over whether they finish in the top four in the Premier League with ten games left.
Even though United defeated Everton 2-0 on Saturday to return back to winning ways, they are still trailing three other teams in the hunt for the final top four position. After Aston Villa’s 4-0 loss to rivals Tottenham Hotspur, United’s deficit has shrunk to eight points from eleven, but they are still a game behind.
Achieving Champions League qualification for the upcoming season is crucial to maintaining Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s rebuilding plan for the team. Enrolling in the top European club tournament will have a significant financial impact and increase United’s appeal on the transfer market.
It implies that each of the ten obstacles still standing in United’s way will be crucial. Ten Hag likened his team’s previous 11 games to cup finals before the victory over Everton, and it’s unlikely that he has changed his mind.
But whatever position United ends up in this season, there will soon be changes in the M16. According to information obtained by the Manchester Evening News last month, United plans to sell a record number of tickets during the summer window and wants to take the initiative in the seller’s market.
Moving on is necessary for a plethora of players who are outside Ten Hag’s first-choice starting XI, as well as one or two others who could assist balance the books in the struggle against Financial Fair Play [FFP] rules. Naturally, there will be gaps left by those anticipated departures that must be filled.
It is already acknowledged that United must alter their roster this summer in order to provide Ten Hag’s first-choice starting lineup more depth. As far back as September, United created a list of positions they wanted to strengthen; however, it’s highly likely that more have since been added.
United prioritised improving at right-back, center-back, central midfield, and attack on that first list. Given the volume of injury concerns they have had from that side of the back four, it would not be absurd to speculate that they are also considering the possibility of adding a new left-back to their roster as the season progresses.
Although Diogo Dalot has cemented himself as the starting right-back in recent months, United’s interest in Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen suggests the Reds still wish to strengthen that position. When considering the defensive line as a whole, Lisandro Martinez is the only player that can be counted on to start in Ten Hag’s best starting lineup, securing the position of left centre back.
Lisandro Martinez at the Etihad Stadium, just before the derby match, sporting a United tracksuit.
This season, Lisandro Martinez has been greatly missed by Manchester United for extended periods of time. (Photo courtesy of Danehouse/Getty Images/ James Gill.)
This season, United’s centre back lineups have changed numerous times, and Raphael Varane’s future is still up in the air. Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire could both be sold, even with their advancements.
United has to find a long-term replacement for Casemiro in the midfield. It will be difficult to unseat Kobbie Mainoo because he has established himself as a mainstay, and Bruno Fernandes is still the front-runner to keep his lead architect post at No. 10.
There have been claims that Mainoo will replace Casemiro, opening the door for Mason Mount to return and try to completely launch his United career following an injury-plagued first campaign. But Mainoo is developing into a creative, forward-thinking midfielder, and it appears like he has the potential to become a formidable No. 8.
Up front, United is unlikely to chase a high-profile No. 9 in the summer because Rasmus Hojlund was bought from Atalanta in August of last year with the intention of becoming the team’s primary striker in the long run. Regarding the broad categories, nothing is certain right now.
The right flank is still a long-term issue because neither Antony, who was drafted the next year, nor Jadon Sancho, who was signed in 2021, have made an effort to establish themselves as leaders in that regard. The most obvious option is Alejandro Garnacho, but at 19 years old, he is not assured a starting spot every week, especially if there isn’t a clear favourite to start on the left given Marcus Rashford’s lacklustre play this season and his ongoing connections to Paris Saint-Germain.
Not only do Martinez, Mainoo, Fernandes, and Hojlund appear to be locked into the starting lineup, but Andre Onana also exudes the same confidence. For the remainder, nothing is known.
