Manchester United is in a crucial moment of the team building that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started when he was appointed manager on a permanent basis in 2019.
The team has obviously improved significantly over the last 12 months but is equally not the finished product and still requires targeted additions to strengthen – especially a midfielder, right winger and striker.
Arrivals in central midfield and right back would also be good, maybe even a new goalkeeper depending on what decision is made about David de Gea’s future, but the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic still make it doubtful if the budget this summer is enough to cover the three priority positions, let alone additional new faces.
An equally important part of the rebuild is knowing when to get rid of dead wood and when some players have fulfilled their purpose and can not give more to the cause.
Will David de Gea, Dean Henderson or anyone else become Man Utd # 1 next season? | Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
David de Gea (SELL): Apart from occasional winks of his former self, De Gea’s dip in form since 2018 has not shown long-term signs of improvement and now, after a decade of loyal service, it may be time to make money – as guts as it can be. He now has a child in Spain and will return home if Atletico Madrid are looking for a new goalkeeper to suit all parties.
Dean Henderson (KEEP): If De Gea leaves, the ideal scenario is for Henderson to be promoted to number one, even though he still has a lot to prove at the very highest level. It would be a huge display of faith, with United not having had a home grown regular number one in 70 years.
Sergio Romero (RELEASE): Without a contract in the summer and without a future in Manchester after being treated quite badly by the club last year, Romero leaves as a free agent.
Lee Grant (RELEASE): Grant’s future may all depend on how United play out the situation with De Gea and Henderson. At 38, it would not come as a surprise if he retired this summer and is kept in some form of coaching ability.
Nathan Bishop (KEEP): It told how popular Bishop is in the squad when he signed a new contract in January due to the reaction from his teammates. He is a full-time member of the first team for training purposes, rather than a player under the age of 23.
Joel Castro Pereira (RELEASE): Almost 25 years, without a contract in June and unable to establish himself in a number of loan clubs in recent seasons, it is time to say goodbye to Pereira.
A new midfielder arriving would mean that Victor Lindelof is no longer a starter Alex Pantling / Getty Images
Harry Maguire (KEEP): Need a new long-term partner to get the best out of him and complement his skills, but Maguire is an extremely important part of this development team. United have limited the search to Jules Kounde or Pau Torres.
Victor Lindelof (KEEP): Although he will not be a regular start anymore if a new midfielder arrives as expected, Lindelof is still a valuable asset to have in the squad.
Eric Bailly (SELL): The time is probably out for Bailly at United and it’s a real shame that it never really went for him. Injuries prevented a clearly talented defender from fulfilling his potential and with only one year left on his contract this summer, sales are the best option.
Axel Tuanzebe (KEEP): Tuanzebe has probably not played as much this season as he, Solskjaer or fans, would have hoped – especially after he got Kylian Mbappe in his pocket in the Champions League in October. Next season may be his last chance to prove himself.
Phil Jones (SELL): If he can get in shape, United should be able to sell Jones this summer as Newcastle, West Ham, Leicester, Southampton, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Sheffield United and Celtic showed interest in him as late as December 2020.
Teden Mengi (KEEP): Teenage center-back Mengi is incredibly highly ranked by United and has spent the second half of this season gaining invaluable experience on loan at Derby. Another loan would be possible, but there could be an opportunity to establish oneself as the fourth midfielder.
Alex Telles has been a good signing despite not playing much | Alex Pantling / Getty Images
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (KEEP): There are aspects of his game that need work, especially his awareness and marking in the penalty area, but Wan-Bissaka is without a doubt the best one-on-one defender in the Premier League, perhaps in Europe, and is still only 23.
Luke Shaw (KEEP): It has been remarkable how Shaw has revived his United career this season and is playing perhaps the best football of his life. He looks fit and sharp and has even played his way back into the England squad.
Alex Telles (KEEP): A good signing last fall, if not just for the impact his arrival had on Shaw in terms of creating real competition for seats. Telles is still an invaluable rotation option.
Brandon Williams (LOAN): His second season in the first team has been much tougher than his first as a result of increased competition for places and some problems outside the field. Need regular football and a loan in an intermediate Premier League can offer it.
Diogo Dalot (KEEP): It was not entirely clear why Dalot was frozen out by Solskjaer last season and his loan spell to AC Milan has shown that he still has the potential to become a top player. United could stop missing fullback depth in 2021/22, so bringing him back would make a lot of sense.
Man Utd must agree on a new contract with Paul Pogba or sell him Fran Santiago / Getty Images
Paul Pogba (KEEP): It will either be a new long-term contract or a transfer for Pogba this summer as his current deal expires in 2022. With a depressed market, a new contract of these two options is more likely. But the important thing is that Pogba looks much happier than he was in 2019 because he finally plays in a good United team that has a chance to match his ambitions.
Scott McTominay (KEEP): It’s easy to see McTominay become vice captain in the future, after using the bracelet for the first time in January and increasing his leadership role in the squad. He is now 24 and it has been his best season by far.
Peace (HOLD): It probably won’t be a long-term, regular starter if United can add extra quality to the central midfield, whether in 2021 or 2022 depending on budget, but Fred has once again shown his worth this season and will remain a valuable part of the squad. .
Nemanja Matic (SELL): Matic has increasingly been a number of players this season and even if he has a contract until 2023, he can move on this summer. His name has been mentioned in talks with West Ham about a possible Declan Rice strategy.
James Garner (KEEP): Solskjaer is a big fan of Garner, having compared the guy to Michael Carrick before and may be ready to give the 20-year-old a few more opportunities after a season with regular first team football on loan at Watford and Nottingham Forest.
Andreas Pereira (SELL): United will certainly not get 27 million euros (23.4 million euros) to buy written in Pereira’s loan deal with Lazio, as almost all of his Serie A appearances have been off the bench. But there is no future for him at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes (KEEP): More than 20 goals this season in the top 12 last season tell its own story. Fernandes has not only taken his own quality to United, he has lifted the whole squad and demands more from his teammates than they previously gave.
Donny van de Beek (KEEP): United have not seen the best from Van de Beek this season and the Dutchman has had even less chance when time has passed. It would not make sense to sell him for a cash loss as soon as possible, even if the club is willing to explore the possibility of at least using him as a weight in potential transfer deals, especially with Borussia Dortmund.
Juan Mata (SELL): United have the opportunity to trigger a one-year extension of Mata’s contract, which is currently due to expire this summer. This would allow the club to pay a small transfer fee for the 32-year-old, who is expected to return home to Spain.
Jesse Lingard (SELL): The right thing to do with Lingard is to sell him. He has flourished on loan at West Ham and would be back in first place if he returned to Old Trafford as it could only ever be as a player at best. He has at least created a decent market for himself.
Man Utd want a new striker & Edinson Cavani is expected to leave | Pool / Getty Images
Marcus Rashford (KEEP): Rashford has responded to his “stick to the football” critic by scoring 20 goals in all competitions for the second season in a row and there are suggestions that he has not even been fully fit in a while. Should reach 100 United goals next season.
Anthony Martial (KEEP): If United manage to land a new striker this summer, and it remains one over due to market uncertainty, next season could prove to be Martial’s last as his starting place would almost certainly be gone. He has been poor in 2020/21 after a breakout campaign last year and must prove himself again.
Mason Greenwood (KEEP): Greenwood will learn from his experience this season, both on and off the field, and can use what has been a tough campaign to grow and develop. Getting back among the goals will be his main focus for 2021/22.
Edinson Cavani (RELEASE): If United can land a new “number nine” in the long run, Cavani will have served his purpose and would have to leave. He looks close to joining Boca Juniors.
Daniel James (KEEP): To put it bluntly, James played way too much during his debut season due to a lack of better options. He was never meant to play so often and has looked more efficient as a rotation player in his second year.
Amad Diallo (KEEP): United fans want to see more of Amad next season after getting a few glimpses of the talented teenager during his first months at the club.
Shola Shoretire (KEEP): If Shoretire plays in 10 or 15 first-team matches next season, given that he will not turn 18 until February, it would be a successful year and will help his development.
Anthony Elanga (KEEP): Elanga is the latest promising academy education that connects with the publishing team on a match day and will hope for a few chances in 2021/22.
Facundo Pellistri (KEEP): The young Uruguayan winger was unlucky to get the coronavirus around the same time he might have been in line for a debut in the first team. Pellistri stopped going to Alaves on loan and has started in La Liga since the beginning of March.
Tahith Chong (SELL): It’s time for Chong. The Dutch winger has not looked good enough to give more chances when he has played for United, he could not establish himself on loan at Werder Bremen during the first half and has found his level in Belgium.
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