On Wednesday, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. On Thursday, Juan Mata. And that, would appear to be that, as far as Manchester United’s first step in this regeneration game is concerned.
United have been drip-feeding the farewells, and with Edinson Cavani and Nemanja Matic already confirmed departures, all five of their first-team players with contracts expiring this month are officially moving on.
This was the necessary first phase for new head coach Erik ten Hag, and a situation he would like to avoid in the future.
Signing Pogba for a then world-record £89m fee and allowing him to leave for free six years later makes little business sense, likewise offering contract extensions to Lingard and Mata despite their bit-part roles – but such were the state of affairs at Old Trafford before Ten Hag arrived.
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Newcastle target three more after Ekitike, Arsenal's Calvert-Lewin blow, Sunderland's new scout02 June, 2022Nevertheless, the exodus signals a considerable lightening of the wage bill, and the next phase of this project will be a careful blend of selling and buying. Offloading those who do not fit the Ten Hag template, are surplus to requirements or could command a decent fee, and replacing them with a fresh influx of players capable of – at the very least – making Champions League football a regular occurrence.
It could be quite the overhaul, but given he is yet to take a proper look at the current squad himself, Ten Hag was reluctant to back up Ralf Rangnick’s claim that at least 10 new reinforcements are required.
Man Utd’s summer departures
- Edinson Cavani (released)
- Jesse Lingard (released)
- Juan Mata (released)
- Nemanja Matic (released)
- Paul Pogba (released)
- Lee Grant (retired)
“I am still in the process of analysing to set conclusions,” Ten Hag said in his first United press conference last week.
“I am looking forward to working with these players. The season before, this squad was second in the league, so there is huge potential. I think if we improve, if we can work with them, I think we can get out more than what is now the result from this season.”
The suggestion from Ten Hag is that he will not rush into discarding more players, but rather decide who else needs to, or wants to, leave when they return for pre-season.
“I want to wait until the end of June for some players and the majority in the first week of July,” the Dutchman added when discussing at what point he will sit down individually with his squad.
Marcus Rashford will be among those set for a longer meeting than most. The England forward’s contract expires next year, and though the club have the option to trigger a one-year extension, a downturn in form last season led to growing calls that a change in scenery may do him some good.
The 24-year-old is a boyhood United fan, however, and with Cavani going and Anthony Martial potentially leaving as well, there could be more room for Rashford to thrive if given the opportunity.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the full-back who has struggled since his £50m arrival from Crystal Palace three years ago, and goalkeeper Dean Henderson, the current back-up to David de Gea, may also be considering their options during the summer transfer window.
My bro
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) June 2, 2022???? ???????? @JesseLingard pic.twitter.com/K5fvKaFqxN
In the meantime, Ten Hag will be drawing up plans on where United must strengthen, which could in turn determine the outgoing players and lead to further knocks on his Carrington door.
In particular, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly will be closely monitoring Ten Hag’s search for a new centre-back, with reports suggesting he wants to bring the highly-rated Jurrien Timber over from Ajax.
Ten Hag handed Timber his first-team debut in 2020, and the 20-year-old went on to make 50 league appearances across their past two title-winning seasons.
Timber also earned a first Netherlands call-up last June, and after six caps he will be pushing for more during their Nations League campaign this month.
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Those matches will put Timber firmly in the spotlight as rumours of United’s interest grow, while compatriot Frenkie de Jong is also said to be on the club’s radar.
De Jong is reportedly reluctant to leave Barcelona, but United have opened talks with the Spanish club despite the 25-year-old’s preference to play Champions League football.
This could prove to be a stumbling block for Ten Hag and United’s hierarchy this summer, as they will have to urge players to join the top-four cause as opposed to gifting them a place in Europe’s premier competition.
Ten Hag at least has a £120m transfer budget, according to The Times, although that could increase if Martial, Bailly and Wan-Bissaka all move on.
That leaves room for a marquee signing, and rumours linking United with Benfica striker Darwin Nunez persist despite varying accounts of what the Portuguese club’s asking price may be – ranging from £68m to north of £80m.
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Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is perhaps a more realistic target, with reports claiming Ten Hag is considering Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse as well.
As ever, there is plenty of hearsay at this stage of the season, but with the revolving door already moving at United, it is safe to assume a handful of new names will be arriving this summer.
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