Big personnel changes can be expected at Manchester United in the next transfer window, but here are three players head coach Erik ten Hag needs to sell to help continue his rebuild!
Harry Maguire
Although still a regular in the England national team, time and time again this season it has been proven that the 30-year-old centre-back has no future at the Red Devils. Maguire has been the target of unfair bullying online from fans ever since his big-money switch from Leicester City in 2019 despite never truly being United's biggest problem, but his lack of game time and the way he is perceived by supporters, and seemingly will always be perceived, means it is incredibly unlikely he turns things around for himself in Manchester. For the kind of money the 20-time English champions spent on his signature, Maguire has failed to deliver at a consistent level and should be eager for a move away from Old Trafford to rescue his club career. Ten Hag has shown he wants his central defenders to play high up the field and progress the ball forward at speed, and has relied mainly on Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane for that. Furthermore, Maguire is vulnerable in transition due to his slowness, and therefore suits a different defensive system. In a team playing deep it their own half, you'll see the Three Lions man shine. But, in a team that is building to become better in possession, Maguire will always only be good enough for the bench against elite opponents.
Anthony Martial
Signed from Monaco in 2015 as one of Europe's leading young forwards, Martial's United career, for the most part at least, has been disappointing. While his record of 137 goal contributions in 284 matches for the club is by no means terrible, his inconsistency has long been a problem for the coaches he has worked under since joining the Red Devils. Things came to a head for Martial in January last year when the club decided to send him out on loan to Sevilla following a difficult start to the 2021/22 campaign. In Spain, he scored just one goal in his 12 appearances in what was an injury-laden six-month spell. Perhaps due to the promise he had shown in seasons prior, the then-newly appointed Ten Hag handed him a fresh start as United prepared for this season and he excelled. Martial stood out as arguably the team's best performer in pre-season, but his fitness issues were far from over. According to Transfermarkt, the Frenchman has suffered five different injuries since August, causing him to miss 27 matches. Ten Hag likes Martial, that much is clear, but he will surely be desperate to sign a reliable centre-forward in the coming window to avoid such problems in the future.
Scott McTominay
The Scotsman saw plenty of game time under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United after impressing in the club's U21 team, but has battled somewhat of an identity crisis more recently. Probably still at his best as an old school box-to-box midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation, McTominay has found himself playing in various different roles for club and country more over the last year. The 26-year-old has been utilised at centre-back for Scotland and behind the striker for United, with his recent performance in central midfield during the Red Devils' 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United perfectly highlighting his weaknesses. McTominay was anonymous throughout the encounter away at St. James' Park, a display that will have done little to help his bid to convince Ten Hag is worthy of more minutes. Though he can be a fairly good option to have on the bench in Manchester, the club would be better off replacing him with someone better suited to the managerial team's philosophy.
Written by @KurtLaduma
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