The summer of 2023 will be crucial for Manchester United as they attempt to restore their spot as England's best club.
The Glazers are selling the club, and the new owners are expected to spend heavily on transfers this summer. This means that a number of players will leave the club, notably those whose contracts expire in 2023 and 2024.
1. Harry Potter
Manchester United are set to let Harry Maguire depart this summer, and the club is unlikely to stand in his way. Since Euro 2020, Maguire has had two disastrous seasons at Manchester United.
He was demoted to the second squad for the 2022-23 season after an error-prone 2021-22 season, as manager Ten Hag preferred Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. The main reason Maguire is departing is to maintain his England starting berth ahead of Euro 2024.
David de Gea, No. 2
The contracts of several Manchester United players are set to expire at the end of the season. David de Gea is the most visible player.
De Gea, 32, has appeared in nearly 600 games for Manchester United since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2011. Man United has the option to extend De Gea's contract for another year, as is customary at the club, but the two parties are currently in contract negotiations. According to various sources, the key will be if De Gea is willing to accept a pay cut from his current weekly salary of £375,000. De Gea's time to become a free agent is running out.
3. Fred
Fred, a Brazilian midfielder, has a contract that expires in 2024, and there are no plans to extend it at this time.
Indeed, if the right deal comes around, Manchester United will almost certainly sell him this summer. Fred is not a fan of United manager Erik ten Hag, who is aiming to bolster his midfield in preparation for next season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a potential Man Utd buyer, once termed United's employment of Fred "dumb," so if the Englishman does take control of the club, an exodus is even more likely.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's contract will also expire in 2024, but unlike Fred, United has the option to extend it by another year.
Nonetheless, Wan-Bissaka will most likely be sold this summer. United's goal for the transfer window is to sign a new first-choice right-back. That means they'll have to let go of either Wan-Bissaka or Diogo Dalot.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford could be sold this summer, which is a long chance but not impossible. This is because Rashford's contract is slated to end in 2024, and there has been speculation about his replacement. This is because Rashford's contract is slated to expire in 2024, and there has been little progress on a renewal.