Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is plotting a rebuild to help his team challenge the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title next season
Erik ten Hag is considering getting rid of 13 players this summer, as his Manchester United revolution gathers pace.
Ten Hag was appointed a year ago and is enjoying a good first season in charge, with the Red Devils on course for a top-four finish in the Premier League. They have also won the Carabao Cup and are still in the hunt to lift the Europa League and FA Cup.
Despite this, United are still some way off challenging for the Premier League title. Humiliating defeats to Brentford, Manchester City and Liverpool were painful reminders of how much work still needs to be done by Ten Hag and his staff at Old Trafford.
As such, the Dutchman is planning on a clear out this summer. That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim a number of players are up for the chop. It’s believed United need to get rid of several stars to stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
Up to a dozen clubs are said to be interested in signing Anthony Elanga, while Eric Bailly is not expected to return to Old Trafford once his loan move at Marseille finishes. That being said, the French giants are not interested in signing Bailly on a permanent basis.
It is unclear whether Elanga will leave Old Trafford for good. The Sweden international enjoyed a breakthrough season under Ralf Rangnick a year ago but has struggled to have the same impact under Ten Hag. He has failed to score in 24 outings this term.
Harry Maguire could be one of those who leaves Manchester United this summer ( Image: Getty Images)
Alex Telles is another player not tipped to return to Manchester when his loan spell from Sevilla expires – while there are huge question marks over the futures of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek, Brandon Williams and Anthony Martial.
Club captain Maguire has fallen behind Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the pecking order and may have to accept a bit-part role if he wants to stay at Old Trafford. Wan-Bissaka is also struggling to get ahead of Diogo Dalot at right-back.
Van de Beek has failed to flourish under Ten Hag, who coached him at Ajax, this season and will not play again until the summer due to a knee injury. Williams has played just five minutes of senior football since Ten Hag arrived from Amsterdam nearly a year ago.
Martial has struggled for fitness this season, with United often forced to depend on unconvincing loan signing Wout Weghorst. Ten Hag’s priority is signing a striker to replace Martial, but he is also after a midfielder, a centre-back, a right-back and a goalkeeper.
United have brought in Matt Hargreaves from Adidas to lead their transfer negotiations. He could be sitting down with Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who is believed to be a transfer target. The former Celtic star is 22 years old.
Facundo Pellistri is another player who is expected to leave Old Trafford, but only on loan to gain more first-team experience. Amad has impressed on loan at Sunderland this season – scoring 11 Championship goals – and could be handed a run in United’s first team.
