At Manchester United, we are in the everybody-blames-all-phase. A real suffering for the entire club and the supporters, but when one of the world’s biggest clubs fails to win Premier League games and also does not reach Atletico Madrid and little Como higher than up to the knee in the Champions League, then everyone understands that something drastic is needed to, at least, have success in the long term. One suggestion is to dump 8 players on the transfer market in 2027.
English Unitedinfocus follows Manchester United very closely, now the focus is not only on the club management and coach, a proper clean-up in the squad is needed – now!
READ: The coach who really wants the Manchester United job should be kept far, far away from Old Trafford
We let Unitedinfocus draw the analysis on which players “stand in the way” of United’s success.
Bruno Fernandes
“Fernandes has been a Manchester United hero during his time at the club. But for the last three months he has sat and watched. The Portuguese international seems to have given up. The goals and assists have dried up and he is only in the starting line-up based on reputation.”
“Every player is allowed to fall into shape, but Fernandes’ interview after the Como loss was unacceptable. He threw Michael Carrick under the bus by publicly criticising tactical instructions. For players to attack the manager is unacceptable, no matter who they are. Fernandes has had opportunities to leave United in the past and his loyalty has been welcome. But it may now be better for club and player to go their separate ways.”
Luke Shaw
(goes without saying)
Lisandro Martinez
“Lisandro Martinez’s contract is expiring and there seems to be little appetite from the board to keep him beyond this season. The Argentine international has given everything for the club over the past five seasons, but injuries have left him short. His recent outburst against United’s board makes his departure inevitable.”
Harry Maguire
“Maguire was given a contract extension last season. But this season, his performances have not justified him being kept. He was clearly only kept to save money on buying a new centre-back. Maguire has been a good earner since joining United in 2019, but it is now time to move on. Martinez and Maguire’s exit will accelerate Leny Yoro’s development and make the signing of new centre-backs more urgent.”
Joshua Zirkzee
(has been on my way out for over a year)
Read on English Clubs: Tottenham’s best player has had enough – loses faith in Roberto de Zerbi
Marcus Rashford
“What is Rashford still doing at Manchester United? The club has been trying to get rid of him since early 2025, without success. And in the summer, Ineos folded too easily, and Michael Carrick was keen to keep him. Rashford’s contribution this season is 0 goals and 0 assists, and any hope of a brilliant comeback has fallen embarrassingly flat. Last season, he made it clear that he didn’t really want to return to United, and an exit is in everyone’s best interest.”
Mason Mount
“Mount has been one of the worst signings in Manchester United’s history. Whether injured or ineffective, he has never shown the quality that made anyone at the club decide he should wear the number seven shirt.”
Noussair Mazraoui
“Mazraoui has been Manchester United’s most disappointing player this season. Every time he’s on the pitch, he seems to be involved in a mistake that costs the team a goal. It’s time to thank him for his efforts and move on, focusing on bringing new full-backs to the club.”
