With Gareth Southgate doing his best to put everyone to sleep in front of the telly, thoughts are turning to the return of ‘proper football’ soon, and with United’s pre-season only a few weeks away, it’s time for the ever-controversial keep/sell debate.
We’ll take a look at all the players in the first team squad….and if you think I’m talking crap, leave a comment and tell me why on X or Facebook.
Without any further ado, let’s get into it!
Goalkeepers
Andre Onana
A fairly easy one. Despite a shaky start and a number of high-profile mistakes – particularly in the Champions League – Onana has shown his quality in big games and has improved as the season progressed. His distribution is mostly good and when he gets it right, his passing can beat a high press.
If he can just cut out the mistakes we may truly have a world-class keeper on our hands.
KEEP
ALtay Bayendir
Has only played once for United, a 4-2 victory over Newport in the FA Cup. Came with a decent reputation and worth having as a back-up.
KEEP
Tom Heaton
As with Bayendir, worth having around as back-up.
KEEP
DEFENDERS
victor lindelof
Played 28 times for United last season and was a real mixed bag. In fairness, he was often played out of position at full-back, where he looked overwhelmed.
Has proven to be a decent deputy through the years but if United want to move forward they need more quality, and the man himself may well want to get more minutes at a smaller club.
SELL
harry maguire
What can you say about Harry Maguire that hasn’t already been said? A divisive figure, he was called upon a lot this season; making 31 appearances. I like Harry Maguire a lot and I thought he played really well, he even contributed to attacking moments like in the Liverpool game.
You know what you’re getting with Maguire and I still believe there is a place for him at United. If he wants to stay I would let him, but if he has ambitions of more regular first-team action it would be fair to let him go after being a good servant for the club in the face of a lot of criticism.
KEEP
Lisandro Martinez
Not much needs to be said about Licha. Quality player, quality attitude, warrior, leader, I could go on. His injuries last season were probably the number-one factor in United finishing where they did in the league.
KEEP
TYREll malacia
Has anyone seen Tyrell Malacia?? Assuming he is still alive and hasn’t left the profession, it would be nice to see more of the Dutch youngster next season, especially given how injury-prone Luke Shaw is. Deserves one more season.
KEEP
Raphael Varane
Out of contract and already confirmed to be leaving. Goes with his head held high after good contributions and 2 trophies won.
LEAVE
Jonny Evans
What a season from a man who is deep into the Autumn of his professional career. Evans was called on more often than a 36-year old should have been, and rose to the challenge pretty much every time. A true leader and model professional – why would you not want him around your team? He’s also out of contract – give him an extension!
KEEP
Diogo dalot
A bit of a breakthrough season for the young Portuguese, who looked the better option over Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Has the potential to reach a very high level with greater consistency.
KEEP
Luke shaw
The best in the business on his day; it’s such a shame but Luke Shaw really struggles to stay fit. As much as it pains me to say – because I really like the player – I think the time might have come to part ways and recruit a more dependable left-back. Easier said than done!
SELL
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Another player that I like, but whose ceiling I don’t think is high enough for the United of the future. A truly world-class tackler, Wan-Bissaka struggles too often positionally and isn’t as comfortable going forward as Diogo Dalot.
Would be an easy starter in most mid-table teams or teams from lesser European leagues, and a transfer with a decent fee would probably be a good outcome for both parties.
SELL
Brandon Williams
Seems like a nice lad and is a Mancunian too, but doesn’t appear to have the quality to break into the United squad and is out of contract.
LEAVE
WILLY kambwala
One for the future. Put in some very decent performances but still clearly has a lot to learn. Looks to have the right mentality and a good attitude, as well as being eager to learn from more senior pros.
KEEP
Midfielders
Sofyan Amrabat
A couple of months ago this would have been a 100% ‘sell’. Amrabat was hardly getting in the team and when he did he was making mistakes at full-back, a position he never looked comfortable in.
However, a late run in the team at midfield and some very good performances, including against Manchester City, have pushed Amrabat over towards the ‘keep’ side. I feel like we’d need to see improvement and consistency, but the potential is there.
KEEP
Mason Mount
I was never mad keen on this signing, but thought, well let’s wait and see. Truth be told, I’m still in the same boat. Injuries have stunted his United career, so I feel like he deserves a chance to prove himself. Whether he gets it is a different story.
KEEP
Bruno fernandes
An easy keep. Despite a few dips in form this season captain Bruno has been excellent again with 15 goals, 13 assists, and the most chances created of any player in the League: 113. You can keep your Kevin De Bruynes and your Martin Odegaards, we’ve got the best midfielder in the league.
KEEP
Amad diallo
Started to break into the team towards the end of the season, and looked very good at times, most notably in the FA cup quarter-final against Liverpool. Would love to see him play more in a new-look line-up – an exciting prospect for the future.
KEEP
Cristian Eriksen
Mostly made substitute appearances and didn’t pull the strings like he did in the 22/23 season, when him and Casemiro looked formidable. A great player with a great story, but for the United of the future, probably not the right man moving forward.
SELL
Casemiro
Similar to Cristian Eriksen; has had a marked drop-off in quality from the 22/23 season and doesn’t look like getting back to that standard any time soon. A marquee signing like Casemiro could generate a big fee and get big wages off the books; parting ways would be the better option.
SELL
FACUNDO PELLESTRI
Doesn’t look to be in Ten Hag’s plans – worth cashing in on with one year left on his contract.
SELL
Donny Van De Beek
Remember Donny? Technically still a United player but clearly not at the right level and would be happier plying his trade elsewhere.
SELL
KOBBIE MAINOO
One of the hottest prospects in world football at just 19, and instrumental in our huge FA Cup win over City. United should bin any and all enquiries for Kobbie regardless of the figure. 80 mill? 100 mill? Bin – Kobbie is the man to build the team around.
KEEP
Scott McTominay
A likeable player who has the potential to produce big moments, but again, probably not quite at the right level for the future United.
Scott could leave with his head held high and still have a great career at a different club. In my opinion, now is the time to part ways. Thanks for the memories.
SELL
Dan Gore
A bright talent for the future.
KEEP
Hannibal mejbri
Isn’t fancied by the manager and difficult to see him breaking into the team consistently. One year left on his contract so the right time to move him on
SELL
Omari forson
A bright talent that showed potential a few times last season. However, the player himself is out of contract and seems to want go. United need players that want to be there.
LEAVE
FORWARDS
Marcus Rashford
Finally, we arrive at probably the most contentious keep/sell question of them all. What on earth should we do with Marcus Rashford?
My thoughts are this: The 22/23 season he played above his average level with 30 goals.
Last season he played below his average level with 8 goals
Marcus’ true level is probably somewhere in between, and his career stats at United show him to be a goal-every-3-games player. That isn’t bad for a winger who also provides assists: 10 in 22/23 but only 5 last season.
On balance, I believe he has done enough to merit one more season, but his attitude and the optics of him letting his head drop, not tracking back or pressing, moaning etc just have to change from day one. The FA Cup Final was a decent performance, and the optimist in me would love to believe Rashford has turned a corner.
He makes it into the ‘keep’ column, but it has to change this coming season – fast.
KEEP
Anthony Martial
Agreed to leave after a stop-start United career. Brilliant at times, but a passenger too often – not the profile of player United need moving forward.
LEAVE
Rasmus Hojlund
A player that has probably been thrown into the deep end too soon, due to United’s inability (or unwillingness) to sign an experienced striker to shoulder some of the attacking burden.
Rasmus did decent last season with 16 goals and the record for the youngest player to score in 6 consecutive league games. And in fairness, we often didn’t create enough chances for him.
A promising start, and definitely one for the future.
KEEP
Alejandro Garnacho
A player with the potential to be world-class; Ale hit 10 goals, 5 assists and scored one of the most amazing goals I’ve ever seen in my life last season. A superstar in the making if he patches up the holes in his game, and one United need to hang on to at all costs.
KEEP
ANTONY
Ahh Antony. There’s no dressing it up, it’s been a disappointing season and he hasn’t yet justified his huge price tag (although the price paid for a player isn’t the player’s fault).
If we could recoup anywhere near the £80-odd million we paid for him, I would say sell, but realistically, that isn’t going to happen. You’d do well to get a third of that figure given how he’s been playing.
Selling Antony at such a loss would be an embarrassment for the club too; he’s the one ten Hag signing that really hasn’t worked, and it puts the cub between a rock and a hard place.
Realistically, I believe the best course of action is actually to keep Antony for one more season and see if things improve. He has had games where he’s looked great so it’s not like he can’t hit those levels – it was just far too seldom that he turned in those performances. May well benefit from a loan spell.
KEEP/LOAN
Jadon Sancho
A prodigiously talented player with a real attitude problem. Tan Hag has given Jadon Sancho all the time, space and support to get back to his best but it hasn’t happened and it seems like the player doesn’t want to be here. It’s time he was moved on, and we should be able to command a decent fee for him.
SELL
Shola Shoretire
A talented youngster but has limited chances and the rumour is he will turn down a new contract, as his current one is up.
LEAVE
Mason Greenwood
We all know the Mason Greenwood story: great player but not the type most Reds want to see in a United shirt again. Has been doing well over in Spain and United should get a decent price for him
SELL
So that’s it, probably some controversial ones in there – let me know your opinion.
One thing’s for certain, there’s going to be a lot of change at United over the summer. Moving the right players on is one thing, but getting the replacements in that can get this great club back where it belongs is another matter.
Watch this space…