Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has had nine months to take a deep look at what he has at Old Trafford, and the United boss is expected to be ruthless in clearing out what he considers to be the deadwood at the club.
United have 10 player who are out of contract in a years time, and a decision has to be made to sign them to new deals this summer or sell them.
United are reportedly talking to only one of the ten, goalkeeper David De Gea about an extended contract, with decisions on the rest to be made this summer,
The other players out of contract at the end of next season are:
- Robin van Persie
- Phil Jones
- Jonny Evans
- Chris Smalling
- Rafael da Silva
- Ashley Young
- Javier Hernandez
- Anders Lindegaard
- Nick Powell
Together they cost over £100 million, but only a handful will and should be offered a new contract by the club.
Hernandez, Lindegaard and Powell are easy decisions. They will be sold in the summer. I like Rafael, but he has became really injury prone the last couple of seasons and does not appear to fit into van Gaal’s system so I would not be surprised to see him be sold either.
With United reportedly in the market for two world class central defenders, to go with Marcos Rojo, I expect that only one, at the most two, of the three defenders will be kept. That is bad news for Evans, who I feel will leave, leaving Jones and Smalling on the bubble.
Robin van Persie will be 32 in August, and he is not the same player he was in his first season and United. I would expect United to offer him the standard one year contract. The big question is whether he will accept it? I think he does.
Lastly is Ashley Young, who has resurrected his career under van Gaal and I expect him to be offered a new deal. That would have been unthinkable a year ago, but Young has played really well at times in that wingback position.
So I expect Young, van Persie, Jones and maybe Smalling to be offered and sign new deals this summer. The rest will be sold.
Who do you think United should keep or let go?
