Patrice Evra has called for a major overhaul in Manchester United’s squad this summer, but has warned his former club they need to sign players with “character”.
United are set for a huge summer as new manager Erik ten Hag takes over at Old Trafford. He’ll be tasked with picking up the pieces of what has been a disaster of a season, with the Reds failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while a Europa League place remains in the balance heading into their final game at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Ten Hag will already know he’ll have plenty of work to do in the transfer window, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata all set to leave, while others could follow them out of the exit door. Furthermore, United have shown this season there are plenty of areas in need of improvement, with a number of players underperforming throughout the campaign.
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Speaking after playing for United in the Legends of the North game against Liverpool on Saturday, Evra believes the current squad is in need of a major overhaul. The former defender though warned his old club they need to bring players in for the right reasons this summer.
"The current players have been here for so many years, the fans are on [top of] them so it brings a lot of negativity around the club. So we need fresh blood," Evra told Sky Sports News.
"New players? What kind of players? Will these players come for the badge? Or will they come for the money or the fame? I'm more looking for players with character and [want to know] what their reason is for coming to United.
"Of course [we need an overhaul]. It's about time, we need a change. It will be like a dramatic change. I'm not saying 10 players leave and 10 players come in and this will be the solution. But it would be a good solution.
"When talking to the fans, it's almost like a déjà vu. It's the same players they're questioning [as to] why they're playing and why they're here. I think even those players don't want to be at United anymore because I can see those players are even feeling sad, when you should be feeling blessed and grateful wearing that jersey.
"So there's something wrong. I hope those players that don't want to stay just leave the club and the new players come in and fight for the badge."
Evra added: "I don't [have] a lot of excitement about a new manager - I'm excited to see which team we're going to build. I'm going to be excited when we're fighting to win the league and going back into the Champions League.
"Ten Hag is not going to do everything, but he will have my full support. If you put the chef as Manchester United manager he is going to have my full support. But now it's about the board, the players, what we're going to do and a better structure."
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