How Manchester United could line up next season

Manchester United are set for a busy summer with numerous players set to arrive and depart.

United are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League and need something of an overhaul in the squad to catapult them back up the table next season.

Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans will all see their contracts expire in the summer, while the club will likely try to move Alejnadro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Antony on.

Sancho was expected to move to Chelsea, though the club opted to pay £5m to send the forward back to Old Trafford, meaning the club will look for another exit route for the former Dortmund man.

Below, we look at some of the potential comings and goings at Old Trafford in the summer.

Potential departures

Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans – Out of contract

Eriksen, Lindelof and Evans’ contracts all expire in the summer. Eriksen has already said he’ll be leaving, while Lindelof has hardly played. According to Capology, those three departures would clear £330,000 off the weekly wage bill.

Casemiro – Free

While Casemiro looked like a revolutionary signing for Manchester United during parts of his first season, he always looked like a short-term option.

Although he’s won Ruben Amorim over, United need younger legs in midfield, and with Casemiro thought to be earning £350,000 a week for another 12 months, the club could do with moving the Brazilian on.

Alejandro Garnacho – £40m

Alejandro Garnacho’s future has looked uncertain ever since the arrival of Amorim, with the winger not having a natural role in the Portuguese’s 3-4-2-1 system.

To his credit, Garnacho seemed to have won Amorim over and the club rejected moves from Napoli in January, but a reported falling out between player and manager will likely see the Argentine leave.

Marcus Rashford – £40m

It remains to be seen where Marcus Rashford’s future lies, though it’s hard to see the Manchester United academy graduate returning to his boyhood club.

The 27-year-old looked rejuvenated following his loan move to Aston Villa prior his injury, but the club's PSR issues mean Rashford may end up with Barcelona.

Jadon Sancho – £25m

The excitement around the arrival of Jadon Sancho in 2021 was palpable, with the club signing one of the world’s best wingers. For one reason or another, the move didn’t work out, and Sancho will now look to rebuild his career elsewhere.

Rasmus Hojlund – Loan

Manchester United aren’t really in a position to lose forwards at the moment, but if they bring one or two new attacking options in, it could pave the way for Rasmus Hojlund to leave on loan. The Dane could head back to Serie A to more familiar surroundings in a bid to recapture his form, with Inter thought to be interested.

Antony – £25m

The arrival of Ruben Amorim signalled the beginning of the end of Antony’s Manchester United career. Signed by Erik ten Hag, who only used the winger sparingly, Antony couldn’t find a place in Amorim’s plans.

The Brazilian has, however, enjoyed something of a resurgence on loan at Real Betis and it seems the club would like to keep him beyond the summer, with Ten Hag also reportedly interested in taking him with him to Bayer Leverkusen.

Tyrell Malacia – £5m

While United forked out £13m for the full-back three years ago, an 18-month knee injury resulted in a loan move back to Eredivisie, joining PSV.

With Patrick Dorgu arriving in January and Harry Amass graduating from the United academy, Malacia may move on permanently in the summer.

Potential arrivals

Matheus Cunha – £62.5m

Matheus Cunha will leave Molineux in the summer, and with 15 goals in 29 Premier League starts and a reported release clause of £62.5m, he didn't seem short of suitors.

Cunha was United's first major signing of the summer and looks to be an ideal fit for Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system, whilst having the versatility to play further forward.

Viktor Gyokeres – £55m

United had been linked with a number of strikers heading into the transfer window and it looked like they were always going to get whatever was left over after the big boys had come to the table.

But with Arsenal seemingly intent on signing Benjamin Sesko, the door looks open for Gyokeres to reunite with his former manager at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo - £60m

Occupying the other #10 role looks like being Bryan Mbeumo after his 20-goal season with Brentford.

Amorim is thought to want attacking players who can play wide or centrally, and while Mbeumo was largely deployed as a right-winger with Brentford, he was at his best cutting inside and occasionally played as a centre forward.

How Manchester United could line up next season