Manchester United are set to enter contract hell in the next 18 months with as many as 15 players seeing their deals expire by the end of next season.
The Red Devils currently have 28 players in their squad, including stars who are out on loan, but the Premier League side are set for a huge amount of upheaval in the coming years.
It presents a major opportunity for United’s next manager, who will be appointed in the same summer that six players will also see their contracts come to an end.
That could be used as a potential attraction for the next boss, who will have the chance to form the United squad in his own image.
Here, Mirror Football looks at all 15 players who will be out of contract in the next 18 months and what the future may hold for them…
HAVE YOUR SAY! How many of the 15 players should Manchester United hand new contracts to? Comment below.
2022 – Six contracts expire
While United’s new boss will immediately be faced by the departures of six of his first-team squad, he will likely not be too concerned with the names of those who move on.
Lee Grant is now the fourth-choice keeper at Old Trafford and will likely not extend his stay, at least in a playing capacity.
Like Grant, Juan Mata is a veteran in the squad, but is also set to leave the club when his deal expires, having barely featured over the previous two campaigns.
While not veterans in the same vein as Grant and Mata, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard are almost certain to leave United.
Lingard has been unable to find regular game time despite an impressive loan spell at West Ham last season and could even depart on loan or a permanent transfer before the end of the month.
Pogba has also shunned any talks of a new contract, having long made his desire to leave the Red Devils clear, with Real Madrid and PSG both linked with the Frenchman.
The only two players out of six who will be out of contract in the summer are Tahith Chong and Edinson Cavani.
Chong had impressed during a loan spell at Birmingham City, but was forced to undergo surgery in November, cutting short his time at the Championship side.
But his performances for Blues should see him handed a new deal alongside Cavani, who has been one of United’s most consistent players over the past two seasons.
Out of contract in 2022: Lee Grant, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Tahith Chong, Edinson Cavani
2023 – Nine contracts expire
Unlike the summer of 2022, the end of next season will present a pivotal moment in the future make-up of United’s squad.
Two key members of United’s goalkeeping department are out of contract, with David de Gea and Tom Heaton both seeing their deals expire.
Whether United will again want to make De Gea one of the most expensive players in the Premier League is unknown, though the Spaniard has been in impressive form this season.
Heaton has also played an important role as United’s third-choice keeper, though the Englishman may be ready to become a starter again after two years warming the bench.
Phil Jones will also likely follow Heaton out of the exit door, having endured a horrific two years with injury, though he did impress when he finally returned to action.
Luke Shaw’s inconsistent performances should not be enough to prevent him being handed a new deal, having been one of United’s star players last season.
The Red Devils may though lose another of their full-backs in Diogo Dalot, who could be keen for more playing time having failed to dislodge Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Old Trafford.
The summer of 2023 will hand United a prime opportunity to overhaul their underperforming central midfield.
Both Fred and Nemanja Matic will see their deals expire and it is likely that they will end up leaving.
There is a chance that the former stays having put in some encouraging performances under Ralf Rangnick, though Matic’s United career is on a ticking clock.
Unlike those two, there is little doubt that United will attempt to extend Marcus Rashford’s deal, despite his recent struggles.
But United do have a major decision to make on Cristiano Ronaldo, whose return to Old Trafford has been mixed.
Whether he stays or not will largely depend on how close United are to challenging for silverware, given his stated desire to win trophies in the final years of his career.
Out of contract in 2023: David de Gea, Tom Heaton, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Nemanja Matic, Fred, Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo
