As he has done throughout his entire career, Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines earlier in July when he asked Manchester United to let him leave so that he could play in the Champions League, a competition that he has thoroughly dominated.
However, a number of other players may also be leaving the club, so it’s not just his face that won’t be in the red half of Manchester next season.
In fact, 14 players may be leaving Old Trafford this summer in what appears to be the beginning of a widespread exodus from the stadium in the wake of the Portuguese legend.
A. Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, once regarded as England’s top defensive right-back, is now falling further down the United hierarchy.
Although he would provide ten Hag with a strong backup option, he might take up a spot that would be better used by a younger player who is still developing. He has now lost his starting position to Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot.
He probably won’t be willing to serve as a stand-in either, which is another factor. The club will undoubtedly want to recoup some of the £50 million they spent on his services in 2019 when he leaves, so if he does this summer, they will want to do so.
Eric Bailly
The Ivory Coast international, whose services had been valued at as little as £8.5 million earlier in this transfer window, appears destined to leave the club this summer. He has only played 45 times in the Premier League in five seasons due to numerous injuries and inconsistent play.
With Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Victor Lindelof all ahead of him in the overall rankings, his race at United appears to be already over.
Phil Jones
The same as Bailly, Phil Jones faces competition for a starting spot from a plethora of center-back options. The 30-year-old still has one year left on his contract, but ten Hag has made him available for transfer after ten years with the team. Wayne Rooney’s DC United has even made a few tentative inquiries about the player.
Jones will leave United as one of just a select few players to have experienced Premier League glory, having once been hailed as the greatest player Sir Alex Ferguson had ever seen train.
Amad Diallo
Amad Diallo has only featured in a number Premier League games since arriving on transfer deadline day 2020. He spent the past season on loan at Europa League winners Rangers, where he scored three goals in 13 games.
The Ivory Coast international does not appear to be in the Dutch manager’s plans for the upcoming campaign, but he will be happy that his reputation has not suffered significantly during his lackluster United tenure.
Theo Pellestri
In a similar vein, Facundo Pellestri will likely be appreciative that, having spent the previous two seasons at Alaves, he had little to do with United’s record-breakingly bad campaign. However, his spell hasn’t scored or assisted in 34 appearances, so he might have a harder time persuading potential suitors of his talent.
Robert Williams
Brandon Williams, another young United player returning from loan, has discovered Tyrell Malacia, the team’s first signing of the window, is ahead of him in line for a starting spot.
Williams appears unlikely to be in ten Hag’s project because Malacia, Alex Telles, and Luke Shaw are all ahead of him. If Williams wants to play regularly at a crucial point in his career, this summer will undoubtedly be the summer that he leaves the club permanently rather than just temporarily.
Dutch right-winger Tahith Chong Tahith Chong, a United academy graduate who has only played 16 times for the first team, is another recurring loanee who is anticipated to be loaned out once more this summer.
He might get the chance to add to his impressive list of organizations, which already includes Werder Bremen, Club Brugge, and Birmingham City. Even though he is only 22 years old, he recently.
The center-back Teden Mengi Teden Mengi, who played alongside Chong at St. Andrews last season but missed most of it due to injury, is likely to be loaned out once more this summer due to his age and the fact that his contract isn’t up until 2024.
Although the academy graduate is strong and mobile, unlike some of United’s other defenders, the 20-year-old had previously made a few appearances for the club when Solskjaer was in charge, but he is way too far down the pecking order to be close to breaking into the side.
The center-back Teden Mengi Teden Mengi, who played alongside Chong at St. Andrews last season but missed most of it due to injury, is likely to be loaned out once more this summer due to his age and the fact that his contract isn’t up until 2024.
Although the academy graduate is strong and mobile, unlike some of United’s other defenders, the 20-year-old had previously made a few appearances for the club when Solskjaer was in charge, but he is way too far down the pecking order to be close to breaking into the side.
Toby Laird
Ethan Laird had two successful loan stints in the Championship last year, first at Swansea and then at Bournemouth. As a result, he received playing time on United’s preseason tour, most recently against Melbourne Victory.
It is unlikely that he will be kept at the club for another season to sit on the bench and waste away when he could be improving his game, even though the Red Devils have fewer right-backs than centre-backs. He appears to be in line for another loan period given the high level of interest in his services.
the Shola Shoretire
In a rare instance, the absence of right-winger Shola Shoretire from ten Hag’s 31-man preseason touring group is a compliment. As one of the most prestigious academy programs at the club
