Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is poised to sack a number of fringe players once a deal to move Eric Bailly to Marseille is finalized in the coming days.
Erik ten Hag has already chosen the next three players he wants to let go as Eric Bailly nears his departure from Manchester United.
The Ivorian defender, who joined the club in 2016 during Jose Mourinho’s tenure, has faded into obscurity over the past year and has not been included to any of United’s matchday squads this season.
Bailly’s departure looked unavoidable after United spent almost £56 million on Lisandro Martinez, and he is now set to join Marseille on a season-long loan deal in order to play regular first-team football again.
In terms of the agreement, the French giants must sign Bailly on a permanent basis for around €7 million (£5.9 million) if they qualify for the Champions League and the 28-year-old plays a certain amount of games over the next year.
RelatedPosts
The Telegraph reports that Ten Hag is now aiming to offload Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Phil Jones, and Axel Tuanzabe, in addition to Bailly.
The trio has all fallen out of favor with the Dutchman, who is anxious to add new players before the September 1 deadline.
Wan-Bissaka was recruited by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for an eye-watering £50 million in 2019, but the former Crystal Palace right-back has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old was seen as one of the most promising defenders in the country during a breakthrough season at Selhurst Park, but he has since lost his first-team spot to Diogo Dalot and has been linked with a £10 million return to the Eagles.
Jones has been hampered by injuries throughout his Manchester United career, but he shone last season when he was unexpectedly catapulted back into first-team action. However, the veteran is no longer required and may proceed.
Tuanzabe, like Jones and Wan-Bissaka, is likely to leave Old Trafford after failing to make an impression during loan spells at Aston Villa and Napoli. The United youth graduate has made just 37 appearances for the club since making his senior debut in 2017.
Ten Hag is anxious to sign another right-back before the transfer deadline, and Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier is a target.
Despite the recent £60 million signing of Casemiro, United manager Jose Mourinho is seeking for a goalkeeper to replace David de Gea, and another midfielder may emerge.
