Seven Man United players Erik ten Hag has to go…….

KEY POINTS
Erik ten Hag has not been fired by Manchester United after a thorough end-of-season evaluation.
United may consider selling a number of players in an effort to turn around their dismal 2023–2024 season.
Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Antony, and Jadon Sancho might all be profitable.
Despite the wealth that came with winning an FA Cup back in May, Erik Ten Hag was widely speculated to be the next Manchester United manager to be condemned to history, and this speculation has dominated the past several weeks. But after 17 days of hard, meticulous evaluation between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the restructured INEOS management, the Dutchman’s future was reversed, and he is now expected to take the hot seat at Old Trafford.

This would have been shocking to some after the Red Devils were guided to an almost unforgivable eighth-place result in the Premier League, their lowest result since the top division’s 1992 metamorphosis. However, some perspective on the circumstances was required. His dedication to developing young players is something his superiors highly regard, and he has the most trophy total of any Man United manager in the generally unsuccessful post-Ferguson era—two titles in two seasons.

Furthermore, strong outcomes from the previous season, including a third-place finish in the Premier League and a successful Carabao Cup run, demonstrated Ten Hag’s ability to produce results. With a fresh transfer plan and a more attentive leadership, the Dutchman might be able to turn things around for the Red Devils. A near-miss with the chopping block, however, will serve as something of a wake-up call for the boss, who must now make good use of this summer in order to prevent a repeat of the same scenario occurring at this time next year. In close collaboration with Dan Ashworth, we have identified a number of players the team should let go before the 2024–2025 campaign in order to make improvements.

Jadon Sancho
A broken romance leaves Sancho’s time at Old Trafford forever gone.

It seems strange to let go of a player in such terrific form, especially considering that Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are the other players who are competing with Sancho for a left flank starting spot this season. It’s easy to forget, though, that this is the same form the Englishman displayed at Borussia Dortmund to justify his shocking move in 2021 in the first place, and it turned out to be a meager explanation for his premium £73 million price tag.

Looking in from the outside, Sancho seems like a confidence player. His confidence appears to be gone at Old Trafford, and his strained relationship with Ten Hag isn’t helping him either. A guy with so much potential might seem impossible to sell, but patience only lasts so long. If they could use the £40 million they’ve valued him at to reinvest in the team, it might be worth it.

Casemiro

Casemiro’s performances have stalled in the 2023–24 campaign after a great first season with the Red Devils the previous season. This is a sobering reminder that the 32-year-old is only growing older. United will be hoping that the Middle Eastern retirement home makes another bid in the upcoming weeks, since it is reported that a Saudi Pro League team made an offer close to £60 million a year ago.

The Brazilian should “call it a day” and “go to the MLS or Saudi,” according to Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher, following United’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace in May, when Casemiro was starting at center back. This viewpoint is also represented in his club’s attitude toward him.

By no means is Victor Lindelof a subpar player. However, the Swede turns into a constant stand-in when everyone is healthy and available. At 29, he still has a chance to recoup a portion of the £31 million that Manchester United originally paid for him this summer. According to MailOnline, he will probably be made available for transfer along with several other Manchester United players.

Ratcliffe intends to approve a major roster makeover, so there won’t be time to hold onto players for sentimental reasons, which puts Lindelof squarely in the “deadwood” category. Harry Maguire will probably benefit from his colleagues’ bad luck due to Lindelof’s departure and Raphael Varane’s recent contract expiration, as the team has significantly improved this season.