- Four Manchester United stars out of contract
- Casemiro already confirmed he’s leaving
- Uncertainty over Ugarte and Zirkzee’s futures
Manchester United face one of the most important summer transfer windows in recent memory. A UEFA Champions League return should be on the horizon ahead of next season.
INEOS are tasked with continuing to rebuild a squad that has long needed ‘open heart surgery’ as Ralf Rangnick famously put it. The heart of the midfield is being ripped out as Casemiro departs, having found life again.
Replacing Casemiro is the top priority, but there are other areas of the squad that need addressing. That includes the possibility of a new left winger with Yan Diomande and Iliman Ndiaye linked.
The club won’t just need to bring in fresh faces but also call time on several players’ Old Trafford careers.
Manchester United – Stay or Go
Goalkeepers
Senne Lammens – Starting between the sticks, there is no doubt that Senne Lammens continues. The Belgian has made a remarkable start to life at Old Trafford and made the number one shirt his own.
Lammens won’t just be staying at United come next season but he’ll remain the first-choice goalkeeper for years to come.
Verdict: Stay
Andre Onana – You can’t fault the Cameroonian’s commitment as he seems eager to stay at the club. What you can find issue with is his performances since joining the Reds from Inter Milan for £47.2m in the summer of 2023.
Onana, currently on loan at Trabzonspor, was supposed to be David de Gea’s replacement but he performed more of a comedy act in goal. There is no world in which he should still be contracted to the Red Devils once the summer transfer window closes.
Verdict – Sell
Altay Bayindir – The Turk started the season as Ruben Amorim’s number one and that speaks volumes of Onana’s nosedive. His best display came in the FA Cup win over Arsenal last season and that’s the heights of an underwhelming spell overall.
There are already reports linking him with a return to Turkiye with Besiktas and that is the right call for all involved.
Verdict – Sell
Tom Heaton – The veteran English shot-stopper might not be playing but he is still an important member of the dressing room. If he is happy to continue in such a role, then there’s no reason not to keep him as third choice.
Verdict – Keep
Radek Vitek – The fact that United endured Onana and Bayindir while Radek Vitek was impressing at youth level was a massive concern. The Czech goalkeeper has been earning rave reviews on loan at Bristol City this season.
Vitek has suggested he would rather have game time than sit on the bench. But offering him domestic cup competition football next season should suffice.
Verdict – Keep
Defenders
Leny Yoro – When the young Frenchman has appeared, he’s often put in a fine display and shown just how much potential he has. It must be said that he isn’t the finished article and has parts of his game to improve, but he’s going nowhere.
Verdict – Keep
Matthijs de Ligt – If assessing the squad during the first half of the season and Matthijs de Ligt is one of the most important players. But a nightmare back injury has prevented him from appearing since December.
The Dutch centre-back doesn’t look likely to appear again this season. But it would be rash to give up on him at this stage.
Verdict – Keep
Lisandro Martinez – Another Red who just can’t seem to shake off injury troubles and that’s been a concern. But when Lisandro Martinez is fit, he’s United’s best defender.
The Argentine formed a formidable partnership with Harry Maguire under Michael Carrick. He has the tools to take the captain’s armband from Bruno Fernandes in the future.
Verdict – Keep
Ayden Heaven – One of the best signings INEOS have made and the Arsenal academy product will only get better. The young English centre-back’s versatility could really come into effect next season and he will be eager to start earning regular game time at senior level.
Verdict – Keep
Harry Maguire – What a turnaround from the Englishman whose resilience has been unbelievable. Nobody is bringing up his £80m price tag anymore, and that’s a testament to his character and colossal performances.
Give Maguire a new deal and help him continue to nurture the likes of Yoro and Heaven. He could even enter the coaching setup once he does call time on his career.
Verdict – Keep
Tyler Fredricson – With such top talent in defence, especially at the youth level, it unfortunately feels as though Tyler Fredricson just won’t make it in the senior team. He’s undoubtedly a solid defender, but isn’t quite on the same level as Yoro and Heaven.
Verdict – Sell
Patrick Dorgu – The Dane winger’s start raised questions about the decision to sign him in January 2025. Fast-forward a year, and he’s scoring in a Manchester derby win and a 3-2 thriller at the Emirates.
Dorgu is still young and one of the squad’s most exciting talents. He gives Carrick, or whoever is in charge next season, an option at left-back and on the left and right wings.
Verdict – Keep
Luke Shaw – It’s been an impressive season for the longest-serving player at United. Luke Shaw has been back to his best and, fortunately, stayed relatively injury-free.
The pressure was on the left-back to rediscover form after a woeful past campaign. Keeping him but finding a suitable long-term heir is the best course of action.
Verdict – Keep
Tyrell Malacia – Any chance the Dutchman had of staying at the club ended with his calamitous cameo appearance in the 2-1 loss to Newcastle United. His spell at Old Trafford has been one of constant injury setbacks, but he also just doesn’t have what it takes to be a success with the Reds.
Verdict – Let Contract Expire
Diego Leon – The Paraguayan has yet to appear at senior level and a loan to a Championship or even newly-promoted Premier League club could suit him.
Verdict – Loan
Diogo Dalot – Topsy-turvy is the perfect way to describe Diogo Dalot’s United career. The Portuguese right-back has been a mixed bag and the jury has long been out over his reliability.
Putting Dalot on notice is the way forward, and it requires an improvement in consistency before thinking about his future. Summer 2027 will be decision time.
Verdict – Keep
Noussair Mazraoui – The Moroccan was outrageously good last season and lived up to expectations. He hasn’t kicked on and his fitness has been a problem.
That said, he’s a good option because of his versatility, and he’s not exactly taking home a large sum of money each week.
Verdict – Keep
Midfielders
Manuel Ugarte – INEOS haven’t got much wrong in the transfer market but signing Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain for £50m was one of them. The Uruguayan midfielder just isn’t the right fit for the Reds’ midfield.
Verdict – Sell
Casemiro – It’s a sad goodbye because the Brazilian has become a hero at Old Trafford. But it’s the right decision because United need to move in a new direction with Elliot Anderson the ideal replacement.
Verdict – Let Contract Expire
Kobbie Mainoo – Ruben Amorim’s tumultuous tenure was always going to end in tears, and that’s not least due to his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo. How the Portuguese coach didn’t see the enormous talent in front of him is simply astonishing.
The young English midfielder has been flourishing since Carrick arrived in January. He is the future and hopefully gets an equally as exciting midfield partner.
Verdict – Keep
Bruno Fernandes – United have to get Bruno Fernandes to extend his contract if they want to continue moving in the right direction. He has been unplayable this season and should captain the Reds into a new era next season.
Verdict – Keep
Mason Mount – When the Reds paid £60m to bring Mason Mount to Old Trafford, there were many excited but some confused. How would the English midfielder fit into a team with Fernandes?
Handed the number seven, it seemed Mount was destined to be a top star at the Theatre of Dreams. That hasn’t happened because of a horrific injury record that should see him make way this summer.
Verdict – Sell
Attackers
Bryan Mbeumo – The Cameroonian attacker has been excellent since arriving from Brentford for £71m. United took a lifetime getting the deal over the line but thankfully they stayed focus on doing so.
While Bryan Mbeumo may have come off the boil in recent months, he’s still been well worth the money.
Verdict – Keep
Amad Diallo – It’s been a strange season for Amad, who started it as a right wing-back in Amorim’s system. You could argue his best displays came in that role, and he isn’t quite the same player under Carrick.
But there should be no doubts over Amad remaining at Old Trafford and playing an important role in a Champions League return.
Verdict – Keep
Matheus Cunha – The Brazilian was made for United and every time he’s on the ball he makes something happen. He makes for box office viewing and has been one of the standout performers under Carrick.
Cunha’s winner against Arsenal really cemented his status as one of the fan favourites among the Old Trafford faithful. He is a joy to watch.
Verdict – Keep
Benjamin Sesko – Gary Neville and Michael Owen have had their doubts about Benjamin Sesko. United fans haven’t and he’s repaid their faith in him with a brilliant run of form since the turn of the year.
There has been so much potential and promise shown by Sesko and he could be the real deal once he’s fully adapted to life in the Premier League.
Verdict – Keep
Joshua Zirkzee – There is a lot to like about Joshua Zirkzee, including his character and his presentation as a proper team player. He seems to have a positive attitude and plays for the badge.
When it comes to being a key player, there is something missing. It’s a tough call because he can make an impact off the bench but an experienced striker should arrive and he unfortunately might make way.
Verdict – Sell
