Manchester United: who must go and who should stay this summer?

Manchester United are in a serious pickle: knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday the club’s trophy drought will stretch to at least five seasons as Ralf Rangnick’s team fight to finish in the top four. The squad are patently not good enough. A perfect scenario would allow a double-figures clear-out of players but this is impossible. So, the category included below of “stay by default” recognises this; “must go” is self-explanatory; and “must stay” takes in the dead certs and those out of contract next year who should be persuaded to re-sign. Mason Greenwood, suspended indefinitely, has not been included in this list.

Eric Bailly (contract expires 2024, defender) The 27-year-old should be enjoying his peak years yet through no fault of his own is too injury-prone, illustrated by his making only seven appearances this season.

Edinson Cavani (2022, forward) A victim of United’s mixed messages: Ole Gunnar Solskjær projected as a coup having the striker renew terms but the Norwegian proceeded to sign Ronaldo and Cavani was relegated to the stand-in No 9. Is often not match-fit by self-declaration.

Phil Jones (2023, defender) Now 30, Jones is another whose body has, sadly, serially let him down: the player Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed could be United’s greatest ever last pulled on a United shirt more than 10 times in a season in 2018-19.

Jesse Lingard (2022, forward) Was persuaded to stay last summer, yet relations with his boyhood club have become particularly frosty (to characterise in polite terms) and he will depart.

Anthony Martial (2024, forward) A spluttering, underwhelming seven-year United career will surely end after a half-season loan at Sevilla.

Juan Mata (2022, midfielder) Has become United’s eternal