Jonny Evans deserves a new role at Manchester United

Another year and another new chief executive at Manchester United. Omar Berrada's in-tray will not be overflowing with pending contract renewals, at least.

Richard Arnold replaced Ed Woodward in February 2022 and United had four high-profile players on deals with looming expiry dates: Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani.

The quartet were released and have not been missed. Mata's warmth is but he was 34 and had passed his peak years, Lingard is clubless, Pogba is facing a four-year ban for testing positive for testosterone and Cavani has scored two goals in the last year.

High-ranking sources at United attempted to frame the departures as ruthless acts. They had inexplicably held discussions with Pogba and Lingard about new deals when they ought to have cashed in on both academy graduates.

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The most high-profile current United player approaching the final five months of his contract is Jonny Evans, a 36-year-old fifth-choice centre half signed on transfer deadline day after training with the squad for six weeks.

Tom Heaton, 38 in April, is in the same boat. Then there is Brandon Williams, with one substitute appearance for United in nearly three years.

Williams will not play for United again and, unless a fee is forthcoming, the one-year extension on his deal should be left dormant. Heaton has been mistreated ever since he rejoined his boyhood club in 2021 on the assumption he would be the number two 'keeper. A move to Luton Town, where first-team football beckoned, was blocked in the summer.

Evans is one of a handful of respectable performers at United this season. He