Manchester United have released seven players and they must sell more this summer

Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have both left Manchester United wondering what could have been with a tad more fortune.

The centre-backs were brilliant performers at their best but, unfortunately, their bodies let them down and succumbed to injury problems too often, something which curtailed the progress either could have made at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson thought Jones could become 'United's best-ever player', while Tuanzebe's flawless display in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain when he was just 22 years old is certain to live long in fans' memories. Remarkably on the back of a 10-month spell on the sidelines, Tuanzebe was outstanding that night, keeping Kylian Mbappe quiet and it's a genuine shame that injuries have denied him the chance to reach his potential.

Jones is now aged 31 and Tuanzebe aged 25. The latter will have no problem finding a new club, albeit at a lower level, and it was not a surprise to learn of the club's intention to release both of the defenders upon the expiry of their deals.

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Although the players who were set to be released were revealed by this publication weeks ago, the official 'retained list' was published on Friday afternoon and as expected, there were no shocks on the formal document.

The departures of Jones and Tuanzebe were confirmed, along with the exits of young players Ethan Galbraith, Di'Shon Bernard, Eric Hanbury, Manni Norkett and Charlie Wellens, meaning a total of seven players had been let go.

Some of those players have been at the club since they were children and United take particular pride in the aftercare they provide their academy products with upon release, which is not a given at many