Pogba and Fred to go? De Gea to maneuver on mortgage?

Manchester United loved their joint-best league inserting since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as supervisor in 2013, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s crew ending second within the Premier League and likewise having an opportunity to win the Europa League towards Villarreal.

Regardless of progress being made on the pitch at Outdated Trafford, United nonetheless completed 12 factors behind champions Manchester Metropolis. A bunch-stage exit from the Champions League and failure to make it to a home cup closing underline the continuing points that Solskjaer wants to deal with.

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– Ogden: De Gea or Henderson? Man United’s No. 1 spot have to be settled

Having cleared out various underperforming excessive earners in latest summers, together with Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Chris Smalling, United now have a youthful, leaner squad.

However there may be nonetheless work to be accomplished earlier than they are often considered challengers for Premier League and Champions League success once more. With that in thoughts, we now have carried out a player-by-player evaluation, making an attempt to deliver readability to United’s squad-strengthening choices. The place you see a easy “Maintain,” you possibly can assume we agreed and there wasn’t a lot to speak about. In any other case, we weighed in with our feedback.

It is not nearly efficiency, both. It is about age, wages, character and contract size (we went with Transfermarkt for contract expiry dates for consistency). And there will likely be transferring elements, too: departures or arrivals that trigger chain reactions, generally sudden.

Word: A number of United gamers have contracts that embrace the choice of an extra yr on expiry. For consistency, all contracts under relate to the first yr of expiration.

Soar to: Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | General evaluation

GOALKEEPERS

David de Gea (30 years outdated, contract expires in 2023)

OGDEN: De Gea has been in decline because the 2018 World Cup and has made too many pricey errors to be trusted as United’s No. 1. He’s nonetheless able to unbelievable saves, however they do not outweigh the errors, so United want to dump. Along with his enormous wages (over £300,000-a-week) and phone state of affairs, a mortgage is the probably choice this summer season as discovering a membership to signal him completely will likely be just about unimaginable as a result of monetary impression of the pandemic, so they should wait till issues enhance earlier than transferring him on.

DAWSON: He’s on large wages, however Henderson has taken his place, so there isn’t any sense or worth in holding him to sit down on the bench.

Verdict: Dump or mortgage (estimated charge for everlasting deal: £20m)

Dean Henderson (24, 2025)

DAWSON: No want to increase his contract, however United should signal a back-up keeper to problem him correctly subsequent season and guarantee complacency would not set in.

OGDEN: He seems to be profitable his battle with De Gea to be United’s No. 1 however he has a protracted contract already. Henderson shouldn’t be the completed article by any means, so see how he progresses earlier than contemplating a brand new deal.

Verdict: Maintain

Sergio Romero (34, 2021)

DAWSON: Out of contract in the summertime and hasn’t performed all season, so let him go.

OGDEN: Ought to have been allowed to depart final summer season when United had provides, however poor decision-making noticed them maintain out for too excessive a charge and ended up having to pay a non-playing keeper 12 months of wages.

Verdict: Dump (Finish of contract — free switch)

Lee Grant (38, 2021)

DAWSON: His enjoying contract is up and he might transfer onto the teaching employees.

Verdict: Dump (Finish of contract — free switch)

DEFENDERS

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (23, 2024)

OGDEN: He nonetheless must work on his recreation, particularly his distribution and focus, however he’s clearly United’s first-choice right-back. If he continues his improvement, lengthen his contract in 12 months’ time.

DAWSON: Maintain him, clearly, however no have to renew his contract simply but.

Verdict: Maintain

Brandon Williams (20, 2024)

DAWSON: He wants video games, so a mortgage transfer could be the most suitable choice for him subsequent season.

Verdict: Maintain (however ship on mortgage)

Harry Maguire (28, 2025)

OGDEN: His contract expires when he’s 32, so United are lined for the long run with their captain. However his latest harm has highlighted his significance to the crew, so he might should be rewarded with a brand new deal in a yr’s time.

Verdict: Maintain

Victor Lindelof (26, 2024)

OGDEN: He was fortunate to get a four-year deal in 2020 after an unimpressive first three years at United and his presence within the crew is right down to the dearth of appropriate alternate options within the squad. In a super world, you’d let him go and reinvest in a greater defender however, realistically, Lindelof is the least-worst choice to associate Maguire, so he’ll keep.

DAWSON: United gave him a protracted contract final yr once they did not have to, to allow them to’t do something however preserve him.

Verdict: Maintain

Eric Bailly (27, 2024)

DAWSON: He has simply signed a brand new contract, so he stays. However wants to remain match now.

OGDEN: I like Bailly. He has tempo and tenacity, however he’s additionally harm susceptible and might make some inexplicable selections on the pitch. His new deal is smart, but in addition suggests United will not be out there for a much-needed new centre-back this summer season.

Verdict: Maintain

Phil Jones (29, 2023)

DAWSON: Transfer him on, should you can.

OGDEN: He hasn’t performed since January 2020, however nonetheless has two years, plus the choice of one other 12 months, on his contract. Jones has been a superb servant for 10 years and unfortunate with accidents, however United ought to minimize their losses and let him go on a free as a result of it is unimaginable to think about any membership paying a charge for him.

Verdict: Dump — Launch (estimated charge for everlasting deal: £5m)

Axel Tuanzebe (23, 2022)

DAWSON: Robust one. He wants video games, however you possibly can’t mortgage him out within the closing yr of his contract. United ought to take a danger and provides him the possibility to earn a brand new contract. If he would not, try to transfer him on in January.

OGDEN: Tuanzebe shouldn’t be a child anymore. If he hasn’t made it but, he by no means will.

Verdict: Cut up Maintain and assess / Dump (estimated charge: £12m)

Luke Shaw (25, 2023)

OGDEN: If any participant has earned a brand new contract this season, it’s Shaw. He has responded properly to the signing of Alex Telles and has been one of the best left-back within the Premier League for the previous 12 months.

DAWSON: Begin speaking over a brand new deal.

Verdict: Maintain and lengthen

Alex Telles (28, 2024)

DAWSON: Good competitors for Shaw.

Verdict: Maintain

Diogo Dalot (22, 2023)

OGDEN: United’s drawback lately has been giving too many probabilities (and new contracts) to gamers who clearly aren’t ok. Dalot is not ok, so transfer him on.

DAWSON: He is spent the yr on mortgage at AC Milan and has impressed coach Stefano Pioli, so deliver him again as his versatility means he can cowl for each full-back positions. That will allow Williams to exit on mortgage.

Verdict: Cut up Dump / Maintain (estimated charge: £12m)

MIDFIELDERS

Nemanja Matic (32, 2023)

DAWSON: United are caught with him, having handed him a brand new contract he hadn’t earned. They will not have the ability to get an honest charge for him, in order that they’ll preserve him.

OGDEN: I feel his expertise is vital, particularly alongside Scott McTominay. He is not significantly cellular lately, however he is a helpful participant to have within the squad.

Verdict: Maintain

Fred (28, 2023)

OGDEN: I might try to transfer him on, as a result of his passing is poor, he is not a very good tackler and would not rating objectives. However he has performed virtually 50 video games this season, so Solskjaer should see one thing in him. If you happen to might get £20m and use the cash for a greater participant, I might do it.

DAWSON: Do not give him a brand new deal; let him go.

Verdict: Dump (estimated charge: £20m)

Paul Pogba (28, 2022)

DAWSON: Attempt to lengthen his contract, but when they can not then transfer him on in the summertime to get some switch charge. For the time being, no membership appears to have the type of cash that United need.

OGDEN: United should be imaginative with Pogba. With no apparent vacation spot and neither get together significantly eager on the thought of a brand new contract, United ought to look to make use of him in a swap deal. Provide him to Juventus in alternate for Cristiano Ronaldo; or attempt to get Actual Madrid to supply up Casemiro, Toni Kroos or Raphael Varane. However do not give him a brand new contract.

Verdict: Cut up Prolong / Dump (estimated charge: £60m)

Scott McTominay (24, 2025)

OGDEN: He brings good power to the crew and might nonetheless develop his passing recreation.

Verdict: Maintain

Donny van de Beek (24, 2025)

DAWSON: Persevere with him and determine on what to do in a yr if he hasn’t impressed.

OGDEN: Solskjaer clearly would not charge him, so why waste everybody’s time by prolonging the state of affairs for one more yr? United will make a loss, having signed him for £35m final summer season, however the followers have already beginning to name him “Donny van de Bench,” in order that tells you the impression he has made at Outdated Trafford.

Verdict: Cut up Maintain / Dump (estimated charge: £20m)

Juan Mata (33, 2021)

DAWSON: United have an choice to increase his contract for a yr, however it’s time for him to go.

OGDEN: Mata has been a mannequin skilled in his seven years at United — and so they have been a troublesome seven years for the membership — however he ought to now transfer on and revel in some enjoying time elsewhere.

Verdict: Dump

Bruno Fernandes (26, 2025)

OGDEN: Give him a brand new contract. Overlook in regards to the 4 years he has to run on his current deal, Fernandes has carried United since arriving from Sporting CP in January 2020, so they need to reward him by making him the best-paid participant on the membership.

DAWSON: I agree. Give him a pay rise and do every little thing to point out how vital he’s.

Verdict: Maintain and lengthen

Jesse Lingard (28, 2023)

DAWSON: He has accomplished sufficient on mortgage at West Ham to earn a brand new deal, however it’s unlikely he’ll wish to come again as cowl for Fernandes.

OGDEN: A transfer would go well with United and Lingard. He must play and United can get a switch charge within the area of £25m on the again of his West Ham performances. Solskjaer displayed a scarcity of religion in Lingard by not often utilizing him previous to his mortgage transfer, so it would not replicate properly on the supervisor that the midfielder has accomplished so properly elsewhere.

Verdict: Dump (estimated charge: £25m)

Andreas Pereira (25, 2023)

OGDEN: One other instance of United missing ruthlessness with regards to offloading gamers who aren’t ok. Pereira ought to have been moved on no less than two years in the past.

DAWSON: He is been on mortgage at Lazio all season and has accomplished little to warrant a return to United, so eliminate him should you can.

Verdict: Dump (estimated charge: £10m)

James Garner (20, 2022)

DAWSON: He has accomplished properly on mortgage at Nottingham Forest, so lengthen his contract and mortgage him out once more subsequent season.

Verdict: Maintain and lengthen

FORWARDS

Marcus Rashford (23, 2023)

DAWSON: United want to start out speaking a few new deal, as a result of they’re getting into the ultimate two years of his contract. If they do not, they may must let him go subsequent summer season, particularly if the crew fails to point out indicators they’ll win an enormous trophy.

OGDEN: You may sense bother forward with Rashford. He’ll wish to see United stepping as much as problem for the highest honours, however, equally, he must take his personal recreation to a different degree by changing into extra constant. If he would not signal a brand new contract. United could have an enormous drawback subsequent summer season.

Verdict: Maintain and lengthen

Daniel James (23, 2024)

OGDEN: His huge asset is his tempo, however opponents have labored out learn how to take care of that now, so he provides little or no to United past sincere endeavour. And that is not sufficient for a crew with aspirations of profitable huge trophies.

DAWSON: Maintain, however do not lengthen.

Verdict: Cut up Maintain / Dump (estimated charge: £20m)

Mason Greenwood (19, 2025)

DAWSON: Among the finest younger gamers round. He signed a brand new deal this season, so no want to increase once more simply but.

Verdict: Maintain

Amad Diallo (18, 2025)

DAWSON: He must play, however he is not able to be concerned on a constant foundation at United so ought to go on mortgage.

Verdict: Maintain and mortgage

Anthony Martial (25, 2024)

DAWSON: United ought to be open to provides as a result of he’s too inconsistent, however they’re prone to preserve him.

OGDEN: After six years at united, he has a strike charge of a purpose each 3.3 video games, which is not sufficient for a participant of his expertise. However the necessity to offload different gamers ensures that he’s prone to survive by default for one more yr.

Verdict: Maintain

Edinson Cavani (34, 2022)

OGDEN: After virtually becoming a member of Boca Juniors, he prolonged his contract for one more 12 months. The Uruguay worldwide has been an important addition to the squad with over 15 objectives this season and provides United time to discover a youthful, long-term answer to their centre-forward search.

Verdict: Maintain

Tahith Chong (21, 2022)

DAWSON: Not ok and his type at Membership Brugge on mortgage this season hasn’t urged he has a future at United.

Verdict: Dump (estimated charge: £4m)

Facundo Pellistri (19 2025)

OGDEN: Solely simply signed and one for the long run. Has been on mortgage at Alaves in Spain.

Verdict: Maintain

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

United have proven they’ve a powerful first crew this season, however they proceed to lack depth and high quality past their beginning XI. The issue they’ve is that a lot of these gamers who fall wanting the required requirements must keep this summer season as a result of no membership can realistically eliminate 10 squad members and change them multi function window.

With the switch market prone to be hit onerous by the monetary impression of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is going to be powerful to seek out golf equipment who can signal the likes of De Gea, Fred, Van de Beek, Pogba, Lindelof, James and Martial. But when a deal for Pogba is struck within the area of £80m, United might make the most of the very fact some gamers will likely be out there for a knock-down charge.

United stay within the hunt for Borussia Dortmund‘s Jadon Sancho, who will price no less than £80m to signal, however a transfer for the England winger will eat up the membership’s summer season finances.

If they’re to go additional and signal a centre-forward akin to Tottenham’s Harry Kane or Dortmund’s Erling Haaland (each of whom would command a charge of over £120m), they must transfer on from Pogba and De Gea to boost funds and get their mixed £600,000-a-week off the wage invoice. That will likely be simpler mentioned than accomplished, so count on one other irritating summer season of switch dealings at Outdated Trafford.