Experienced players Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, both 32, as well as Rafael Varane, 31 are likely to exit Manchester United while there is also rising doubt around 31-year-old Harry Maguire.
United To Make Drastic Summer Changes
Information around Old Trafford right now suggests the players would be replaced by younger talent as the club would prefer to sign stars for the long-term.
If those four players were to move on in the summer, United would be saving over £1million-a-week on the wage bill. In turn, that would give them scope to redesign the squad make-up as they move forwards.
United are considering signing a new forward, central midfielder and two centre-backs while there is additional potential to sign a full-back and right winger.
Losing Casemiro, Varane, Eriksen and Maguire – and knowing Jonny Evans’ role for next season is also unclear – would leave United with no outfield players currently in their 30s.
Victor Lindelof and Bruno Fernandes, both 29, would become their oldest names on the pitch and while there will be further consideration around that, the current feeling is that United will resist the urge to bring in senior players for the sake of it. Lindelof turns 30 in July while Fernandes’ birthday is in September.
Such senior players often command high wages and can also bring less guarantee of retaining fitness levels across a season so would only be signed if they were deemed genuinely strong additions for the coming years.
As a result of United’s thinking for next season, West Ham could try again for Maguire. The Hammers were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday night and face big decisions as they ponder what to do about David Moyes as manager and how they deal with replacing star player Lucas Paqueta, who is likely to join Manchester City.
If Moyes stays then defence will be a key focus and Maguire will be one of the top names on his wanted list and there is a feeling he will be more attainable at a time when United’s club model is changing.
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