Erik ten Hag was free to splash the cash at Old Trafford over the course of his tenure with Manchester United, and now Ruben Amorim could be set to reverse several of those signings.
Ruben Amorim could be poised to shift a substantial chunk of the Manchester United squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag.
Despite receiving a contract extension over the summer, Ten Hag was given his walking papers by the board in late October, following a lacklustre start to the 2024/25 Premier League season where he achieved just three wins from nine games. INEOS brought in Amorim from Sporting CP the following month to help turn the tide at Old Trafford.
However, the 40-year-old has made very little progress with the team he took over from his Dutch predecessor. The Red Devils currently sit 13th in the league standings with nine games to go and look on course to record their worst-ever finish in the English top flight as a result.
And as questions have been raised over the current squad's compatibility with Amorim's vision, the Portuguese coach may look to move on a number of his current players that Ten Hag initially welcomed to the north west. As per the Manchester Evening News, United are hopeful of permanently parting ways with Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho, who are enjoying loan spells with Aston Villa, Real Betis and Chelsea respectively at present.
Chelsea ultimately have an obligation to buy Sancho for between £20million and £25m, but they could pay a penalty for failing to make the loan a permanent move. Profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) could also cause a headache for United in their endeavours, as valuations are effectively imposed on non-academy players by their transfer spread fee and the length of their contract.
This means that Sancho would be worth £14.8m if they are left with him, and Antony should cost £32.5m. Meanwhile, as United bought Casemiro for £60m on a four-year deal in 2022, they would need to sell him for at least £15m should they hope to not register a loss under PSR - despite the midfielder just turning 33.
Elsewhere, there is also uncertainty over the future of Altay Bayindir, who was brought in by Ten Hag in September 2023 from Fenerbahce for £4.3m - with Amorim citing how he hopes to recruit a new goalkeeper. The club could also wave goodbye to Tyrell Malacia permanently, who joined the Red Devils from Feyenoord in 2022 for a reported £13m.
That's because his current loan club, PSV Eindhoven, have an option to sign the left-back at the end of his current spell. It's not just transfers which will lighten the United ranks this summer however, with veterans Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans looking likely to retire at the end of the current season, while Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof are set for release.
It comes as United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently announced that the club "won't be selling players because of the state we are in financially", with many fans concerned for the futures of young stars like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, who have both impressed as of recent.
While Mainoo is yet to sign a renewal, his contract will not expire at Old Trafford until 2028, while Garnacho saw a £40m offer from Napoli rejected in January. The current United set-up has faced widespread criticism from pundits, with certain analysts questioning if the players are able to roll out Amorim's desired style of play in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
The side has scored just 37 goals in the current term while conceding a total of 40, showing obvious flaws across the pitch. And while Amorim will undoubtedly need to invest in further signings, it appears as though he already has some in his ranks which could suit his patented system.
While Mason Mount, for example, has only played 33 of 98 games for the Red Devils, it is said that Amorim may start to utilise him due to a belief that he could work well in the system. United's next test comes in the form of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground next Tuesday.
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