After Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, Manchester United is allegedly getting ready to fire Erik ten Hag, and several players may be let go as a result.
Antony could be on his way out at Manchester United (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Some of Manchester United’s star players may have difficulties if Erik ten Hag leaves the team.
Regardless of the result of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, the Dutch manager is rumored to be leaving. The team is already considering potential replacements, with Graham Potter, Thomas Frank of Brentford, Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town, former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, and former Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel all in the running.
It will be an even more important summer for Manchester if Ten Hag does decide to leave, as they want to build the foundation for a comeback to their previous heights. With that, the Mirror has listed four United players who might be leaving Old Trafford in the near future.
Anthony
Unquestionably one of the greatest letdowns in Premier League history, Antony has failed to live up to the £86 million price Ten Hag approved for his 2022 transfer from Ajax. He scored eight goals in 44 games during his lackluster United debut season, but this season he has only managed three goals in 38 games, with just one coming in the Premier League.
The Brazilian star’s future at Old Trafford would seem to be hanging by a thread without the manager who brought him to Manchester, so the team will need to prepare for a significant blow.
Luke Shaw, who played 47 games across all competitions to help United win the EFL Cup and a spot in the Champions League last season, has been one of the team’s more dependable players since Ten Hag took over in 2022. But the Three Lions star has been hampered by injuries this season.
Only 15 appearances have he made this season; his last match was a 2-1 victory over Luton Town in February. Shaw’s ongoing injury problems and his approaching 29th birthday in July may indicate that Ten Hag’s replacement will likely look for a younger left-back option when evaluating Shaw’s status at Old Trafford.
Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay still finds himself fighting for validation at Old Trafford (Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
With ten goals in all competitions, Scotland’s Scott McTominay has had his best goal-scoring season to date. Despite being Ten Hag’s go-to pick for the entirety of the 2023–2024 campaign, he continues to struggle with validation.
McTominay has been a senior player at Old Trafford for seven years, but he still doesn’t have a permanent place in the starting lineup. If United decides to make several changes in the summer, his spot in the squad might be viewed as a chance for improvement.
Casemiro
Casemiro’s reputation at Old Trafford isn’t what it once was (Image: Getty Images)
During his first season at the club, Ten Hag signed several high-profile players, including Real Madrid legend Casemiro. Even though he had a great first season in England, his second campaign has been a complete bust.
Regular minutes have not presented any problems, but Jamie Carragher has been very critical of the Brazilian, saying he seems out of place. After his lackluster performance in United’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace earlier this month, the Liverpool legend suggested it’s time for him to move to the Major League Soccer (MLS).
With two years remaining on his lucrative contract, Casemiro, 32, will earn an astounding £300,000 every week. If someone were to replace Ten Hag and try to save money on the balance sheet, they would undoubtedly prioritize his situation.
