Six Man Utd players whose contracts expire next summer - gallery
Three of Erik ten Hag’s squad could be allowed to walk away for free at the end of the season.
Erik ten Hag may have spent over £400m on new signings since taking over as Manchester United manager, but it still feels like his squad is in need of upgrades in several areas.
Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans began the season as fourth and fifth choice centre-back options, and prior to the latter’s injury, had started five of the last seven, with Raphael Varane slipping down the pecking order.
At right-back, Ten Hag still doesn’t have a player adept at fulfilling the defensive and offensive requirements of the role, while United’s midfield has also been lacking this season. Casemiro has underwhelmed, Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat haven’t started well at Old Trafford, and Scott McTominay and Christian Erisken excel in certain areas but struggle in others.
Attack has also proved problematic and at the weekend Ten Hag admitted his offensive players must start finding the back of the net more regularly. With Antony, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund scoring one league goal between them this season, there is undeniably room for improvement. Then there’s the Jadon Sancho debacle, with the winger still frozen out of the United squad.
The approaching January transfer window only increases the spotlight on the issues the squad needs to address, especially given that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover should be agreed by the end of next week.
As always, current contracts become a huge factor in deciding transfer policies, and six of the current squad’s deals expire at the end of the season, meaning they could walk away for free. There is a slight complication when looking at United contracts, though, with the club often inserting the option of an additional year-long extension into deals.
Below, we’ve had a look at the six players, and assessed who could be allowed to leave next summer.
1. Tom Heaton
A player that could have left last summer had United wrapped up the incomings of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir earlier in the window. Heaton's one-year option was applied then, so United can't utilise that again next year. The goalkeeper, who has expressed his frustrations at a lack of play time, could find himself on the move again in 2024.
2. Aaron Wan-Bissaka
No way United will let the 25-year-old leave, after establishing himself as first-choice right-back the last year. Recent reports suggested Wan-Bissaka could sign a one-year extension this season and agree a long-term deal at a later date.
3. Jonny Evans
Doesn't have the option of a one-year extension, and has become an important player for Ten Hag this season. It's too early to tell whether Evans will be offered a new deal.
4. Victor Lindelof
Another player with the additional 12-month option, but it's likely he'll pen a longer extension.