Manchester United, once the form team of the Premier League, face tough times ahead. After being dumped out of the Champions League and Europe altogether, the Red Devils are set to face off against Premier League table-toppers Liverpool. The club is also dealing with the potential completion of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a minority stake in the team, with manager Graham Potter being linked to the job. Additionally, talk of a clear-out and rebuild is circulating with the January transfer window looming.
Five players in particular have been identified as prime contenders to be shifted over the next month or so. The first is Casemiro, who 90min reported on Friday has accepted his future lies away from Old Trafford and is prepared to leave in January. The 32-year-old is a target for the Saudi Pro League and Paris Saint-Germain, but financial constraints may hinder any potential deal. This marks a perfect time for United to part ways, with the club potentially recouping close to the £60m they paid for his services.
Raphael Varane is next in line, having fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid this season. His contract is set to expire in 2024, and with United in the hunt for a new center-back, parting ways with Varane makes sense.
Jadon Sancho, still just 23, remains firm on his refusal to apologize to manager Erik ten Hag and has been linked with a return to former club Borussia Dortmund. Anthony Martial is also likely to leave, with the club set to decide against triggering the extension clause in his contract which expires in June 2024. Donny van de Beek, another player struggling at United, is also heading for a potential January loan to Eintracht Frankfurt.
It’s a period of uncertainty and potential change for Manchester United as they navigate the fallout of their Champions League exit and gear up for the January transfer window. With big-name players potentially on the move, the club will be looking to make strategic decisions to rebuild and strengthen the squad for the rest of the season. As fans eagerly wait to see how the transfer window unfolds, there’s no doubt that big changes are on the horizon for the Red Devils.
