Manchester United’s summer purge. Erik ten Hag is reportedly planning to get rid of up to 13 players, led by captain Maguire

Erik ten Hag’s first season on the Manchester United bench didn’t go badly at all. The team is very likely to return to the Champions League for the next season, and even this year United players lifted the trophy for the League Cup winners above their heads. The team was completed by suitable reinforcements like Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Brazilians Antony and Casemiro. For next season, however, the Dutch coach’s targets will be even higher. Therefore, the team will need to be rebuilt. According to the Mirror, ten Hag is not counting on 13 players from the current squad next season.

United fans might be most happy about the departure of stopper Harry Maguire, who came to Manchester as the most expensive defender in football history and was supposed to become the new leader of the English big club’s defence. Those high expectations, however, were far from being met by Maguire.

Instead, the world was entertained by his defensive mistakes, which often led to goals in the United net. Moreover, under ten Hague, Maguire doesn’t even get involved in games very often.

With the injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the centre of defence, Luke Shaw, who has moved into that position as a left-back, and Victor Lindelöf, who has been playing in excellent form and game fitness as the season draws to a close.

Harry Maguire’s days at Old Trafford are probably over. According to the English media, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in the services of the England international.

Players across the board are on the way out

Another player who is no longer expected at the Theatre of Dreams from next season is French striker Anthony Martial. He failed to adequately replace his teammate when Marcus Rashford was injured, and he too is likely to leave Manchester United. Martial is often criticised for his lackadaisical approach to games. Sometimes it would seem that he doesn’t even enjoy the actual game called football.

Among the offensive players, Swedish winger Anthony Elanga is also expected to leave. This season he has featured rather sporadically under ten Hague. He only notched up 16 Premier League starts in which he failed to score, only assisting one goal. Thus, he should try his luck in another team from the summer.

The purge will not avoid the defensive ranks either. Alongside Maguire, a trio of central defenders should also be on their way out. They are Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Diogo Dalot and Brandon Williams. Considering that the first two are on the right flank of the defence, with their possible departure, United management should look for an adequate replacement. Phil Jones, who has been plagued by protracted injuries in recent years, will also not continue at United.

Alex Telles, Eric Bailly or Axel Tuanzebe should also no longer feature in United’s defence. All these players have spent this season on loan at other clubs and Manchester United does not count on their continued services in the future.

The midfield duo of McFred and the Dutch underdog ends

The midfield line-up should do without the familiar duo preferred by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his tenure. Brazilian midfielder Fred and his Scottish colleague Scott McTominay should leave. Both of them dropped out of the starting line-up after the arrival of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

The story of Donny van de Beek ends very sadly at Old Trafford. A player who will go down in club history as one of the worst reinforcements in history. Van de Beek was coming to United after a great career at Ajax and a lot was expected of him at United. However, he didn’t fit in at the club at all and his loan spell at Everton didn’t help either. It will be better for both parties if they part ways for good.

Source: The Mirror, Premier League, Livesport