Incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has given the club his blessing to move three first-team squad players on in this summer transfer window.
United confirmed the appointment of the Dutchman and the boss alongside his agents landed in London this week ahead of getting his work underway at Old Trafford. Ten Hag will attend his first United match in person as he watches them take on Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League season on Monday.
Ten Hag has already discussed the future of United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who looks set to see out the second year of his contract at Old Trafford. However, Ten Hag is already making decisions on players who hold no part in his future plans.
The contracts of Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Lee Grant and Juan Mata all expire this summer with that quintet expected to seek pastures new, while Nemanja Matic has also confirmed he will leave the club as a free agent this summer. However, many other players will be made available by the club.
Ten Hag has already given his blessing to the club to listen to offers for three other players with goalkeeper Dean Henderson in talks with Newcastle this week over completing a move, as the Manchester Evening News report. David De Gea and Tom Heaton will be the other senior goalkeepers on the club’s books going into next season.
As reported by Sky Sports, United are also listening to offers for defensive duo Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Eric Bailly. The two players have fallen out of favour at the club and are set to be moved on.
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Wan-Bissaka joined in an eye-catching £50million deal from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2019 but despite making a quickfire 126 first-team appearances, lost his place under interim boss Ralf Rangnick this campaign with Diogo Dalot preferred at right-back. Bailly joined from Villarreal in 2016 – the first signing of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford - but has made just 113 club appearances with his six-year stint derailed by injuries and fitness issues.
Ten Hag has decided that neither will be candidates for first-team selection under his stewardship with the club now set to face a remarkably busy transfer window. Not only will exits ease United’s bloated first-team squad but they will significantly reduce the club’s wage bill and allow them to strengthen their negotiating position on recruitment.
Futures of a number of other United first-team squad players are also likely to be under intense scrutiny with Andreas Pereira, Phil Jones and Anthony Martial among those who may be on the way out of the club this summer.
