Manchester United may be struggling on the pitch, but they are also having difficulties in the front office. The club lost midfielder Ander Herrera to a free transfer in the summer of 2019 and currently, they are set to lose five more players next offseason.
Allowing five players to leave for free in one offseason could be detrimental to the Red Devils. Last summer, they just avoided losing a number of players on free transfers. However, with the likes of goalkeeper David De Gea, they only slowed down what looks like the inevitable.
With less than 12 months to go until next summer’s transfer market, here are five players Manchester United will potentially lose on free transfers.
David De Gea
De Gea looked likely to re-sign with Manchester United over the summer. However, De Gea has backed off his initial desire to re-sign. His disinterest in re-signing looks to be having an impact on performances this season. Manchester United are now searching for a potential replacement for De Gea as he looks more likely to leave than just a few weeks ago.
Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic’s contract is set to end in 2020, however, Manchester United can breathe a sigh of relief as they do have an option on the player. They will need to activate that option by the New Year or Matic will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement outside of England. Matic has recently come under fire from former Red Devils player Paul Scholes for his poor play this term. Matic makes over £6 million a season at Old Trafford and his salary could be taken off the wage bill by allowing him to leave for free.
Eric Bailly
Bought by Jose Mourinho for £30m from Villarreal, Eric Bailly has never fulfilled that transfer fee at Old Trafford. Often injured and mistake-prone, Bailly won’t be missed by many supporters of Manchester United. Bailly is currently injury and had he been fit, Manchester United may have sold him during the offseason. According to reports, Manchester United will offer Bailly a new contract just to prevent him from leaving on a free transfer.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah has spent most of his Manchester United career away from Old Trafford. He has played just 21 times for the Red Devils while going out on loan to Crystal Palace and Fulham. Fosu-Mensah was injured in the preseason and is unlikely to really play for the first-team this season. The defender is expected to be let go next summer after failing to make an impact at the club.
Ashley Young
Club captain Ashley Young was retained for this season following Antonio Valencia’s departure. In February of this year, Manchester United and Young agreed on a new one-year deal. It will expire next July and Young is likely to leave for free. The defender will turn 35 next summer. However, Manchester United could be once again influenced to extend Young’s deal if they struggle to bring players in. Young has already appeared in two Premier League matches this season.
