Manchester United may need to make two ruthless transfer sales for long-term success

News of further Manchester United departures from the playing squad will come as little surprise to most supporters.

What has been clear this season is how the Reds have been unable to play in the manner which Erik ten Hag desires on a consistent basis. With new additions needed, it is obvious some players will have to leave.

MEN Sport understands a clearout is in the offing for the next two transfer windows and some of the names at risk are unsurprising. Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho haven't looked like having a future in Manchester for some time.

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However, due to their status at the club, they are unlikely to demand significantly high fees. The same goes for the likes of; Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton and Shola Shoretire.

Therefore, if United are going to raise funds needed to splash the cash some ruthless decisions will need to be made. Two players who you could argue don't deserve to be sold but may have to be for the greater good of Ten Hag's project are Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen's departure is perhaps the easiest of these to stomach having joined on a free and at 31 is not the future of United. His contract expires in 2025 so the window for gaining some reasonable money for the Dane is closing.

For the most part, he has been a good signing and will leave with the best wishes of supporters but now might be the time to part ways. McTominay on the other hand is a different matter.

The Scot is enjoying something of a renaissance at Old Trafford and is scoring goals for fun with club and country. However, there is scepticism he is the long-term solution in United's