Liverpool and Man City have embarrassed Manchester United's 2019 transfer decisions

Hope springs eternal in the heat of summer for Manchester United these days, especially in light of the dismal on-field performances with which supporters have become sadly familiar.

Every summer transfer window is a chance to reset and rebuild, but perhaps never more so than this year’s edition, given the mass walkout fans expect (and hope) to see in the coming weeks. It is therefore heartening for them to see movements already being made to ship players out, and – crucial to the hope and excitement – bring replacements in.

The news in the past week that United will listen to offers for three defenders, in Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams and Eric Bailly, was greeted with a largely positive reaction from the fanbase.

READ MORE: Rangnick reveals recruitment talks with United board

Although all three players have enjoyed their moments, mostly under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s friendly brand of man management, all have flattered to deceive at Old Trafford. And for fans it’s encouraging that the club are willing to offload players who still have years remaining on their contracts. That should mean the number of departees skyrockets, given six (Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Lee Grant) are all bound to leave at the end of June when their deals expire.

Taking that number to double figures is seen as essential, in the eyes of many United aficionados, to give incoming manager Erik ten Hag the clean slate he requires to perform a resuscitation job on the squad.

Wan-Bissaka’s potential exit may yield the most sadness. Given he was an exciting and expensive signing, arriving as a fresh-faced 21-year-old from Crystal Palace for £45million three years ago – under Solskjaer’s ‘cultural reset’