Manchester United are trying to make at least two more signings before deadline day - after the arrival of Casemiro from Real Madrid - to halt a season already mired in crisis.
But offloading existing players has become just as problematic for United as persuading new names to join Erik ten Hag's squad, which currently sits second-bottom of the Premier League.
United want to get rid of at least six players before deadline day on September 1. So far there have been no takers for United's cast-offs, with many on such exorbitant wages or simply not considered good enough for other clubs to decide to take them on.
Eric Bailly
Bailly, who failed to make the nine-man bench for ten Hag's first two United games, has been told he can leave, but no club has so far made a firm move for the 28-year-old defender. West Ham, Marseille and Monaco have all expressed interest, but with two years left on a deal worth £100,000-a-week, Bailly's wages are proving a stumbling block.
Those clubs want to take him on loan, with United continuing to pay a significant chunk of his wages. United, in contrast, want a permanent sale, to raise revenue to reinvest in the players ten Hag needs to bolster his squad. Bailly signed a contract extension in April 2021, keeping him at United until 2023, with the option for a further year. Yet since signing that new deal, he has made just eight Premier League appearances.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Like Jones, there has been little interest in right-back Wan-Bissaka, bought from Crystal Palace for £50m in 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but who has been told by ten Hag to find a new club. Palace could take him back for as little as £10m, a remarkable fall from grace for a player who was touted as one of the best young full-backs in the country when he signed for United.
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Phil Jones
It is a familiar story with Jones, who in February 2019 penned a new deal until 2023, with an option for an extra year, but in that time has made just 21 appearances. Sir Alex Ferguson famously claimed Jones could prove the greatest player in United's history, but a succession of injuries have sabotaged his Old Trafford career and held him back from realising his full potential.
So far there has been little interest in Jones, who could end up staying at United if they are unable to shift him before September 1.
Axel Tuanzebe
Tuanzebe joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan last summer but cut that spell short in January to move to Napoli for the remainder of the season, although he made just two appearances there, both last January. There was mooted interest from Brighton, Bournemouth and Turkish side Trabzonspor, but Tuanzebe finds himself in limbo, with no idea of were he will be playing come September 1.
Brandon Williams
Williams returned to United this summer, after a 29-game loan spell at Norwich last season, hoping to re-establish himself at Old Trafford. But the arrival of Tyrell Malacia, to provide competition for Luke Shaw at left-back, has seen Williams frozen out.
He could stay, however, if United are unable to sign a right-back to rival Diogo Dalot. Williams is right-footed and played right-back on his last two starts for United.
James Garner
After a successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest last season, where he played a key role in their return to the Premier League, midfielder Garner had high hopes of pushing for a regular starting place at United. But he was injured on tour, coming on as a sub in United's final game in Perth, and has been told he can leave if he can find a club.
