Manchester United are set to undergo a potentially massive overhaul in the off-season, with a number of top stars having failed to justify why they should be kept on. KickOff's Lukhanyo Mtuta looks at five stars the club should let go!
Raphael Varane
The Frenchman will be out of contract at the end of the season and reports this week indicate that the defender is yet to receive an offer to extend his stay at Old Trafford. Journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that no talks have been opened between the two parties and as things stand he will leave as a free agent in June. Arguably, United is better off partying ways with the former Real Madrid star given he is one of the highest earners at the club with weekly wages of £340 000 (R8.1 million). Now aged 30, the centre-back has been in and out of the team due to injuries. In 23 matchday squad appearances in the Premier League, Varane has managed just 14 starts this term and was kept out of the team at one point by left-back Luke Shaw.
Read: PSG 'plot move' for Real Madrid star amid Mbappe saga
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen recently confirmed that he told manager Erik ten Hag he was not happy with his lack of game time. According to the Daily Mail, he said: "I have previously stated that I am not satisfied with not playing, but it's not something that keeps me up at night. I have had a conversation with Erik about being unhappy with the situation and wanting to play as much as possible, but I am available and need to be available for the team, which I am and always will be." The Denmark international has made little no contribution this term with just one goal in 21 matches in all competitions. He will be out of contract in June 2025 and selling him now would turn a profit for the club, who signed the 32-year-old as a free agent in 2022.
Casemiro
The Brazilian looks miles away from his usual best, with injuries also becoming a regular occurrence for him this term. A high earner like Varane, Casemiro has drawn continued interest from Saudi Arabia and given that the league has shown a knack of overpaying for players who are in the twilight of their careers, his sale would be financially beneficial for the English giants. Moreover, it seems that the club have already found a capable replacement for the ex-Los Blancos star in the form of 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo. Just this season alone, Casemiro has missed 20 games for United through injury, according to Transfermarkt, and this is without factoring his regular suspensions.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
With United having failed to turn a profit on the likes of David De Gea, Paul Pogba, and Axel Tanzuabe in recent windows, the same mistake shouldn't be made when it comes to Wan-Bissaka. The full-back joined the club for a lofty fee of €55 million (R1.1 billion) but has failed to make more than 20 EPL appearances since the 2020/21 season. His contract is due to expire next term, with United expected to take another financial loss on their investment. With the club having been linked with right-back Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen, there have already been signs that the club could be looking at acquiring a more attack-minded wide defender.
Donny van de Beek
Perhaps the most obvious inclusion on this list, Van de Beek has undeniably been a bad signing for the club since his €39 million (R797 million) transfer from Ajax Amsterdam in January 2020. He is now onto his second loan spell away from Old Trafford and has made just six Bundesliga appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt since joining them on loan in January 2024. There looks to be no way back for the 26-year-old, as even the manager he played well under at Ajax, Ten Hag, does not trust him in his team, as he condemned him to a fringe role before sanctioning his loan.
Read: Man Utd 'ready to sack' Ten Hag for shock replacement
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