Manchester United plan 10-player summer clearout as squad overhaul begins

Manchester United are preparing for one of their biggest summer squad reshuffles in recent years, with internal meetings this week expected to shape a transfer window that could see as many as ten senior players leave Old Trafford.

After a turbulent first half of the season, United have stabilised impressively under Michael Carrick following the departure of Rúben Amorim in January. Results have improved, performances have become more consistent and Champions League qualification is now firmly within reach.

But despite that progress, the club’s recruitment team are already looking ahead.

According to reports in England, Manchester United want to reshape key areas of the squad, reduce wage pressure and create room for fresh arrivals.

The scale of that rebuild could be significant.

One of the clearest areas under review is goalkeeping.

André Onana, currently on loan at Trabzonspor, is expected to be discussed as a permanent exit candidate. United are reportedly open to selling if they can recover part of the fee paid to Inter Milan in 2023.

Behind the scenes, that would represent a financial reset as much as a football decision.

Midfield also looks set for major changes.

Casemiro is expected to move on, ending a high-profile but increasingly transitional spell at Old Trafford. Alongside him, Manuel Ugarte is understood to be available after struggling to establish himself under Carrick.

That creates a clear recruitment priority.

Manchester United will almost certainly need at least one, and likely two, new midfielders if both departures are completed.

The attacking department could also look very different next season.

Marcus Rashford, currently on loan at FC Barcelona, remains expected to leave permanently, although reports from Spain suggest Barcelona may prefer another loan rather than activating their purchase option.

That remains unresolved.

Jadon Sancho also looks to be reaching the end of his United career. Currently out on loan at Aston Villa FC, he is not expected to be offered new terms, with Borussia Dortmund among the clubs monitoring his situation.

Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee could be made available after struggling for regular starts.

United would reportedly consider loan structures with options to buy, similar to how Rasmus Højlund was handled last summer.

That flexibility could help move players quicker.

Elsewhere, Altay Bayındır is expected to leave after falling down the pecking order behind Senne Lammens, while Tyrell Malacia is set to depart after another injury-hit campaign.

There are also contract decisions around younger players.

Toby Collyer is entering the final year of his deal and could be sold if no extension is agreed, while Tyler Fredricson is out of contract and currently expected to leave.

These are smaller moves individually.

But together, they form part of a broader squad reset.

Having followed United’s squad evolution over the past two seasons, the club’s priority now appears to be streamlining rather than simply adding.

That matters.

Because squad balance has been a recurring issue.

Not every contract story points towards an exit.

Kobbie Mainoo is understood to have agreed a new five-year contract, a move United view as central to their medium-term planning.

That is significant.

Mainoo remains one of Carrick’s most trusted young players and is seen internally as a key part of the club’s next cycle.

Amid all the likely departures, keeping him feels like one of the most important pieces of business.

Manchester United’s internal meetings this week are expected to shape the first phase of their summer window, with player exits likely to be prioritised before major arrivals are finalised.

Champions League qualification could strengthen their position in the market, but the size of the rebuild means decisions will come quickly.

For United, this summer looks less like adjustment and more like reset.

Which Manchester United exit would make the biggest difference this summer?