Maguire, Martial and five other Man Utd stars Erik ten Hag could be forced to sell to fund transfers if Glazers STAY

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants to strengthen his squad ahead of his second season in command, but with uncertainties about the club’s ownership, he may be obliged to let some of his present players go.

Manchester United has already had a good first season under Erik ten Hag’s leadership.

The Red Devils have managed to secure the Carabao Cup, whilst they are still in the FA Cup, and Europa League and are on course for a place in next season’s Champions League, while holding an outside chance of the title. One intriguing background to all of this has been the club’s ownership situation after the Glazers opened the door to a possible sale.

No agreement has been reached as of yet, raising concerns that the much-maligned Americans may end up remaining. Ten Hag will likely be forced to be inventive in the transfer market once more in order to comply with Financial Fair Play laws, with a number of players perhaps poised to go in the near future to produce revenue.

Mirror Football looks at the players that could be sold between now and the start of the next season.

Harry Maguire

The England player, who is still captain at Old Trafford, has had a rough season. Following the summer acquisition of Lisandro Martinez – the Argentine having a strong relationship with Raphael Varane – he has slid down the pecking order under Ten Hag.

As a result, Maguire has only made nine starts in all competitions this season. It looks unlikely that the Red Devils will be able to recuperate the record sum they paid to bring Maguire in from Leicester in 2019, but he might still command a sizable fee if he is sold.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

From one expensive defender to another, Crystal Palace signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka for £50 million in the same summer that Maguire came. He was first-choice at Old Trafford for his first two seasons, but opportunities dried up in the subsequent two seasons.

Diogo Dalot was chosen over the 25-year-old, and it appeared as if Wan-Bissaka would be let go in the summer. He has now managed to force himself back into Ten Hag’s thoughts and has impressed.

He still has a decent market value, and it might be a logical decision to sell him if the Red Devils need money.

Brandon Williams

The academy graduate is the last of three English defenders in the Man United starting lineup. Following a lackluster loan spell with Norwich City last season, he has only made one appearance for the Red Devils this season.

That came in the form of a five-minute cameo in the Carabao Cup. With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia favored, it would be a win-win situation if Williams left Old Trafford this summer.

Van de Beek, Donny

Donny van de Beek was signed from Ajax in 2020 after a fantastic run with the Dutch club, but he has been unable to replicate such performances at Old Trafford. A disappointing first season was followed by a second campaign in which he was moved out on loan to Everton.

He returned to Manchester United this summer and was expected to thrive under his former Ajax manager Ten Hag. Van van Beek, on the other hand, made only four starts before his season was cut short due to a significant knee injury.

Van van Beek’s stalled career may benefit from him seeking fresh pastures sooner rather than later.

Martial, Anthony

While Anthony Martial’s talent is undeniable, the Frenchman’s inability to find consistency has long prevented him from establishing himself as the Red Devils’ starting striker. The 27-year-old joined Spanish side Sevilla on loan last season but has seen his Old Trafford return hindered by injuries.

While still having a respectable goal record – six goals in 14 games in all competitions – Martial has just over a year left on his Manchester United contract and could be released permanently.

Telles, Alex

The Brazilian is currently below the pecking order, comparable to fellow left-back Brandon Williams. The former Porto player joined Sevilla on loan for the season, but injury issues have limited his efforts in Andalusia.

His contract is slated to expire in the summer of 2024, so he could be ready for a permanent departure in only a few months.

Eric Bailly

Another in a long line of Manchester United players who have suffered with fitness, the Ivorian was really the first choice under Jose Mourinho, but it seemed to be a long time ago now. Before joining Marseille on loan in the summer, he had made no more than 13 Premier League appearances in any of the previous three seasons.

The Ligue 1 club is required to make the move permanent if certain requirements are met. It remains to be seen whether that happens following Bailly’s suspension for a heinous red card in the French Cup.