Clear-out needed: The Manchester United players who should be offloaded this summer

Fabrizio Tabone
Apr 5
6 min read

Manchester United are getting themselves ready for a huge summer, with them looking to continue revitalising their squad, all while appointing a permanent head coach.

United currently have a pretty inflated squad given the strange season that they have endured, being a 40-game season due to the absence of European football and the disastrous performances in the domestic cups. With European football set to return to Old Trafford next season, they will need to strengthen the quality of their depth.

While we have already looked at a list of targets United should go for, specifically midfielders, there are also several players that need to be offloaded, both to raise funds, and also to improve the overall quality of the squad.

Casemiro's departure has already been confirmed, but there are plenty of other players who should, and probably will be, moving on.

Manchester United do not need wholesale changes for the sake of it, but some of the deadwood needs to be shifted out, and then be replaced by steady signings who will continue to raise the squad's level.

With that in mind, here are the players United should seriously consider moving on from this summer.

1) Altay Bayindir

It is very difficult to fully judge Bayindir too harshly given the lack of opportunities he has had since his move to Old Trafford, yet that should also tell its own story. He was signed as a backup, and whenever he has been called upon, he has failed to impress.

The Turkish goalkeeper struggled to deal with aerial balls earlier in the season, and the rise of Senne Lammens together with United's surprise exits from the cups have made it practically impossible for Bayindir to get back in goal this season.

If United are genuinely serious about competition for places, then the number two goalkeeper needs to push the starter, not merely exist behind him. A move would benefit both parties, allowing Bayindir to play regularly while freeing United to bring in a more reliable deputy, possibly getting Radek Vitek back, given he has impressed so much out on loan.

Sell for: €10-15 million

2) Tyrell Malacia

Another player who is set to move on this summer is Malacia. His situation has been desperately unfortunate, with injuries severely disrupting his time at the club.

However, availability is a quality in itself, and United cannot afford to carry players who are persistently unavailable.

Even when fit, Malacia has struggled to convince, looking way out of his depth both going forward and defensively. With Luke Shaw not getting any younger, United will need a more quality and dependable option to rotate with him. The Dutchman's contract is at the end of the season, and there are no signs of a renewal coming anytime soon.

Sell for: free

3) Manuel Ugarte

This may raise eyebrows given United's lack of depth in midfield, especially with Casemiro leaving, but Ugarte has severely struggled for form ever since he came to the club.

The Uruguayan is a combative midfielder who is aggressive in the press and perfectly capable of breaking up play. However, his work on the ball leaves much to be desired, and he has also proven relatively simple to play through.

United's midfield has often looked chaotic with Ugarte in it, and while he may inject some more intensity, he does not offer any sense of control. He is also reportedly wanting a move away, so should a suitable offer arrive, then it would be best to sell him and try to get another midfielder in.

The only downside is that he arrived for a massive €50 million two summers ago, but his move has been practically a disaster.

Sell for: €25-35 million

4) Joshua Zirkzee

When Zirkzee arrived, there was plenty of talk about where he would play and what he would offer United's attack, being a tall and skillful striker who is very good at operating in the channels between opposition midfielders and defenders.

However, almost two years later, the Dutchman has struggled for any sort of form, scoring just nine goals and providing four assists after 69 appearances, many of which were coming from off the bench. All in all, he has looked a shadow of the player he was at Bologna.

The Premier League demands consistency and physical reliability, and so far, Zirkzee has looked like a player still adapting rather than one ready to lead the line or even rotate effectively.

Given he arrived for €42.5 million in 2024, United would do well to sell him for anywhere near that fee.

Sell for: €30 million

5) Rasmus Hojlund

Another Manchester United forward who desperately struggled for form.

Hojlund is a boyhood United fan, but he practically never really got going at the club, even if he always gave it his all. Arriving for such a huge fee, and be pushed into the starting striker role did not really help him.

The Dane has looked much, much better ever since he was loaned out to Napoli, rediscovering the form that made him such an eye-catching forward a few years ago at Atalanta.

There is clear potential in Hojlund, particularly in his movement, work rate and physical attributes, but the output struggled to match expectations at United, and with Benjamin Sesko looking so good in recent months, then United will most likely go for a more experienced option to rotate with the Slovenian.

Napoli are believed to have a buy option of around €44-46 million this summer, and they seem very keen to get it over the line.

Sell for: €44-46 million

6) Marcus Rashford

Probably one of the more contentious names on the list.

Many United fans love Rashford, given he has been a symbol of the club for years. However, his form in recent years has fluctuated wildly. For every electrifying season that he has provided, there has been one filled with inconsistency, poor decision-making, and questions over effort.

The English forward has seemingly regained some of his form on loan at Barcelona, looking like a much better player than he did in his most recent campaign at United. Barca seem interested in making his loan a permanent move, but they are unwilling to pay the €30 million buy option that they had initially agreed with United.

Manchester United simply cannot back down from that price. Rashford is still a top player, and while he is inconsistent, when he gets his stride, he is a brilliant forward to have.

Sell for: €30 million

7) Jadon Sancho

This one feels inevitable.

Sancho's time at the club has been an utter disaster. While he had shown flashes of quality very early in his United career, he has also underperformed massively together with being plagued by off-field issues.

Regardless of where the blame lies, the relationship between him and the club appears fractured beyond repair. Given his deal expires this summer, a permanent exit seems likely, and that would allow both the player and the club to reset, which is ultimately the best outcome for everyone involved.

Sell for: free

8) Andre Onana

Onana was brought in by Erik ten Hag to redefine how United build from the back, but the transition was anything but smooth.

While his distribution was impressive at times, he was calamitous in goal. He made several errors, particularly in high-pressure moments, that were ultimately too costly.

Goalkeeper is a position where trust is non-negotiable, and Lammens has provided that trust. United need stability at the back, and Onana did not provide that during his two seasons at the club, making a move away all the more likely.

United need to desperately let go of Onana, both to recover some form of transfer fee, and to also get his huge wages off the books.

Sell for: €15-20 million

Final Thoughts

Should United get rid of all of these players in the list for the prices quoted for, they would be raising at least €145 million. While the players in the list would need to be replaced, the funds raised could go towards possible moves for different targets.

There are too many players at the club who simply do not fit the way United want to play, have not delivered, or represent a cycle that United need to break away from.

A successful rebuild needs the decision-makers to be brave, not just in terms of the players they bring in, but also the ones that they let go.

This summer presents Manchester United with an opportunity to strengthen their quality of depth, building on last summer's success. Whether they take it will define the next phase of the club's future, especially with a new head coach set to be announced over the coming months.