MANCHESTER UNITED are a club in crisis and there are seven first-team players who need to leave Old Trafford to save their careers.
The Red Devils sacked their manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after three years in charge on Sunday, following a disastrous 4-1 thumping by Watford.
United have lost five of their last seven in the Premier League and are currently sat eighth in the table – six points adrift of the top four and 12 behind leaders Chelsea.
While Solskjaer was the one to pay the price for United’s dismal form, it might not be long before he’s followed out the Old Trafford exit by some players.
Seven first-team players look likely to leave Man Utd in the near future – with them needing to go for the sake of their own careers…
PAUL POGBA
Pogba started the season with a bang, nabbing seven assists in his opening four league games, playing primarily on the left-wing.
But the 28-year-old’s form has tailed off drastically of late, with Pogba being sent back into midfield when Marcus Rashford returned from injury.
His disastrous recent spell was capped off with a red card just 15 minutes after coming on at half-time in United’s 5-0 home defeat by rivals Liverpool.
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The 2018 World Cup winner appears to cause more problems than solutions at United, after failing to find a consistent run of form since his £89million return in 2016.
Pogba’s contract expires in the summer, and the Frenchman looks set to leave the club for free for a second time, with Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid all interested.
PHIL JONES
Jones has not featured for the Red Devils in the Premier League since January 2020 and looks set to leave the club after more than ten years at Old Trafford.
The 27-cap former England international then spent 20 months out injured, recently saying: “I’ve been through hell and back over the last couple of years.”
The 29-year-old is now fully fit, but Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are all ahead of him in the pecking order.
There are an incredible thirteen clubs reportedly chasing his signature, including both Watford and Newcastle.
The man Sir Alex Ferguson once said could be United’s greatest ever player looks finally set to quit the club in January.
But it is likely that Jones will initially leave on loan, with a view to a permanent move in the summer.
DONNY VAN DE BEEK
Van de Beek has had a nightmare 15 months at Old Trafford since signing for £39m from Ajax last summer.
Fans had high expectations for the popular Dutchman, but he has only managed a shocking four Premier League starts out of a possible 49 since joining.
The 24-year-old was close to sealing a loan move to Everton on deadline day, but the club blocked the move at the last minute.
Former boss Solskjaer reportedly promised Van de Beek more game time this season, but he has only played a paltry 60 minutes in the league.
Everton remain interested in the midfielder, with newly rich Newcastle also keen to snap him up and end his Old Trafford misery.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said last month that there are ‘huge chances’ for Van de Beek to leave the club in January.
But it ultimately hinges on who the club brings in to replace Solskjaer and whether they see Van de Beek as part of their future plans at the club.
JESSE LINGARD
Lingard looked to have revived his faltering career with a stunning loan spell at West Ham in the second half of last season, scoring 9 goals in 16 games.
But the 28-year-old has failed to start in the Premier League so far this season, making just a handful of cameos from the bench.
The Hammers were keen to sign him permanently in the summer, but United blocked the move, claiming Lingard was an important player for them.
The 32-cap England forward had hoped to force his way back into first-team contention, but now appears resigned to leaving the club after 21 years.
His deal runs out in June and contract talks have stalled, with Lingard now looking set to leave for free – and Newcastle, Spurs and West Ham are all interested.
ALEX TELLES
The Brazilian left-back was signed from Porto in October 2020 in a deal believed to be worth £15.4m – which was thought to be a real coup at the time.
He was bought with the intention of providing competition for first-choice full-back Luke Shaw, but has started just eight league games in almost 14 months.
Telles, 28, has struggled to cement his place in the United team due to Shaw’s impressive form until recently and has also been criticised for his defending.
With promising left-back Brandon Williams out on loan at Norwich, it looks likely that Telles will be sacrificed in the summer in order to bring Williams back for next season.
ANTHONY MARTIAL
Martial has been a bit of an enigma since signing for the Red Devils for a fee potentially rising to £58m back in 2015.
The 25-year-old has netted 79 goals in 266 appearances for the club, but managed just four league goals in the whole of last season.
He looked to have cemented his place as the focal point of the United attack at one point, and was given United’s No.9 shirt as a show of faith.
But his patchy form led United to sign the likes of Edinson Cavani, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are all now ahead of Martial in the pecking order.
The Frenchman’s time at United appears to be up and the club look set to cut their losses and cash in on the former Monaco striker in January.
He will reportedly be available for as little as £40m and it has been suggested that he would be open to a move to another Premier League side.
DIOGO DALOT
Dalot was signed as an exciting future prospect from Porto for £19m back in 2018, but has only made 24 league appearances in over three years at the club.
He had a successful loan spell at AC Milan last season and came back to Old Trafford hoping to challenge Aaron Wan-Bissaka for a starting spot at right-back.
But the 22-year-old Portuguese defender has yet to start in the Premier League so far this season and looks set to quit the club on a permanent basis.
Dalot is now a fully-fledged Portugal international and will not struggle to find high-class suitors, with former loan club AC Milan his most likely destination.
The Italian giants tried to make his move permanent, but could not agree a fee with the club, whilst German club Borussia Dortmund are also interested in him.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
