Man Utd urged to sell £261m quartet including forward who’s sabotaging attacks and defender who lacks character
Erik ten Hag has been urged to ruthlessly axe four senior Man Utd stars to ‘restore standards’ amid scathing assessments of two defenders and two forwards.
Man Utd have unquestionably progressed from a footballing perspective this season. Winning the League Cup snapped a trophy-less streak dating back to 2017, while Ten Hag’s firmer approach to his playing personnel has instilled greater responsibility in his players.
United look odds on to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while the FA Cup may yet be added to the trophy cabinet too.
However, their capitulation in the Europa League against the ever-dangerous Sevilla suggested Ten Hag cannot rest on his laurels just yet.
A huge summer transfer window is on the horizon, with an elite-level centre-forward to headline their recruitment drive. Additions are also wanted in central midfield and at right-back.
But to acquire the calibre of player United crave, the Telegraph are among those to report Ten Hag must boost his transfer budget through player sales.
All manner of Man Utd stars have been linked with leaving, and a savage report from the Manchester Evening News has named four senior stars who – in their eyes – must make way to ‘restore standards’.
The quartet named are defensive pair Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire, and attacking duo Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial.
The piece’s author, Samuel Luckhurst, delivered a brutal assessment of the Man Utd foursome who were signed for a combined £261m (Wan-Bissaka – £50m, Maguire – £80m, Sancho – £73m, Martial – £58m).
Wan-Bissaka lacks character; Maguire worse than a nightmare
Firstly, Luckhurst acknowledged Ten Hag is seeking an attacking upgrade on the limited Wan-Bissaka at right-back.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is the Dutchman’s preference, with Sport1 reporting a deal can be had for around £44m. Frimpong was also labelled ‘keen’ on the idea of joining United.
Luckhurst insisted Wan-Bissaka will be the one to go if Ten Hag gets his hands on Frimpong, He then declared Wan-Bissaka ‘does not have the character to succeed at United and he never has.’
Next on the MEN’s hitlist was club captain Maguire. Luckhurst stated the veteran centre-half ‘had a good first season, a decent second, a nightmare third and a worse fourth’.
Ten Hag took just two games before axing Maguire in favour of forging a Lisandro Martinez-Raphael Varane partnership.
The Mail Plus previously reported Maguire has been put up for sale this summer and United are resigned to recouping just half of the £80m they paid Leicester in 2019.
Sancho sabotaging attacks; Martial ‘must be cut loose’
Jadon Sancho was next to come in for sharp criticism, with Luckhurst stating the Englishman is undeserving of a third chance after two sub-par seasons.
Marcus Rashford will revert to his customary left wing role once a new striker is signed. As such, Sancho will be limited to a bench role at best moving forwards anyway.
Sancho’s lack of attacking impetus – 15 goal contributions in 69 appearances – was also scrutinised. The piece claimed Sancho ‘decelerates attacks’ and has wilted in the pressure cooker environment playing for Manchester United brings.
Martial was the last to come under the microscope having gone more than two years without completing 90 minutes for Man Utd in a Premier League encounter.
Injuries have begun to ravage his career and even when fit, Martial often flatters to deceive. Put simply, Luckhurst concluded Martial ‘can’t cut it’.
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