Manchester United now in seventh after dropping more points this weekend, drawing AFC Bournemouth 2-2 in a game in which they needed to be rescued by star playmaker Bruno Fernandes.
As the points continue to drop and Man United fall further and further away from the top four, questions will continue to be asked of Erik ten Hag, even though recent reports indicate INEOS could be amicable to keeping the former Ajax manager on board.
Many Manchester United fans do not take kindly to those reports, but the fans also know that there are at least a handful of players who simply aren’t good enough for the standards the club had set in the preceding decade under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Here are five players who won’t be back on Man United when the 2024/25 season begins.
CB Harry Maguire
An 87 million euro transfer mistake, Harry Maguire was widely panned as gross overpay at the time of his transfer in August 2019 when Leicester City wisely milked the 2018 World Cup standout for all he was worth.
Known as the “Fridge” by some Manchester United fans and by more profane nicknames by many more who frequent Old Trafford, Maguire has more than outworn his welcome in the city of Manchester.
A limited athlete who makes copious mistakes defensively, Maguire is not a starting-caliber Premier League center back, based on what he has shown the world over the past few seasons.
Maguire will probably latch onto some other top-flight team based on name value and the fact that he can string a few passes together, but Man United need to move on from him quickly by any means necessary.
DM Casemiro
As quickly as Casemiro arrived from Real Madrid with four Champions League titles on his resumé, the Brazilian captain will leave Manchester United.
Casemiro has fallen in importance with Kobbie Mainoo’s breakout, and if Man United can get a legitimate transfer fee out of the former Porto man, then they should take the money and run.
The best thing for Premier League clubs, especially underperforming ones riddled with bloated veteran contracts like Man United, is the existence of the Saudi Pro League as a well of money to absorb players like Casemiro.
A big name who can still get the job done in a slower league, Casemiro could be a boon for Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, or one of his other experienced teammates whom he once starred with 5-10 years ago.
Casemiro isn’t “finished”, as the kids on Twitter say, but he’s frequently injured and only marginally better than the other options Manchester United could affordably consider as his replacements.
CB Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane arrived in Manchester one year before Casemiro, but this other serial Champions League winner for Real Madrid is at even more of a crossroads than his Brazilian counterpart.
Manchester United simply cannot rely on Varane, who is one of the most injury-prone players in the Premier League and was already nearing that point in Madrid before Florentino Perez decided to give him the axe with Eder Militao rapidly surpassing him.
While Varane is still a useful defender and significantly better than Harry Maguire, that’s not exactly saying much, nor is the now-30-year-old Frenchman part of any sort of long-term plan.
Manchester United need someone young they can pair with Lisandro Martinez for the foreseeable future. As with Casemiro, if Man United can get a big-money offer for Varane from Saudi Arabia, they should take the money and run.
DM Sofyan Amrabat
Acquired on loan from Fiorentina for 10 million euros with an option to buy for an additional 25 million euros, it’s safe to say Sofyan Amrabat is another transfer mistake by Manchester United who will not be brought back by the club.
Amrabat barely features for Man United and is almost as big of a summer error as Mason Mount. The Moroccan international was wanted by several clubs in the summer after an amazing World Cup and a strong season with the Viola, including appearances in the Coppa Italia and Conference League finals.
The cerebral warrior has been limped and misused by Erik ten Hag, and it makes sense for Man United to cut their losses, rather than splurge 25 million euros more on a backup who is nearing the age of 30.
Amrabat is a sensational player for Serie A and LaLiga who could make his way back to England in a couple of years if he balls out somewhere else again. But his future is quite obviously not at Old Trafford.
CB Jonny Evans
At the age of 36, it feels like it’s a mere charity act from Manchester United than Jonny Evans is a part of the first-team squad, much less actually getting minutes in the starting XI in 2024.
Evans has logged 1,110 Premier League minutes so far in the 2023/24 season, which is actually more than Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Sofyan Amrabat.
Granted, injuries to those players have played a key role in that statistic, but Evans getting that much playing time, even considering absences, is downright outrageous.
Manchester United need a complete overhaul at the center back position, and part of that overhaul means waving goodbye to Evans, who may not generate any money but is just as important to let go as Raphael Varane or Harry Maguire.
