Which Players Should Manchester United Keep and Sell?
Looking player by player at ‘The worst side in Manchester United history’, who should stay and who should go?
There can be little argument that Premier League club Manchester United have been abysmally poor this season and many players will likely leave in the summer or the January window.
But despite the negativity that surrounds the club in these times, fans should be careful not to overreact and call for almost every player to be sold.
Remember, every player suffers as a result of being in a poor team and just because a player has been poor, doesn’t mean they won’t be good enough in a different atmosphere and environment.
With that in mind, here is my opinion on every player who has played their fair share of games this season:
Keep
Noussair Mazraoui
Mazraoui had a great start to his United career but has since tailed off since being moved to wing-back under Ruben Amorim. However, he still looks to have been a good signing who has shown he can be more than good enough in the right center-back position in the back three.
De Ligt
De Ligt has not exactly blown anyone away yet (Although the same can be said for everyone this season) but he has certainly not done enough wrong to be on the sell list. He looks to have been a solid signing so far.
Harry Maguire
United’s former captain has seen a huge comeback in recent seasons after being hounded in the past. He deserved to have that rewarded with the recent contract extension. Maguire has probably been United’s best defender this season.
Leny Yoro
The young signing from Lille has done fine so far but everyone can see Yoro is a signing mainly for the future. He has to be managed well and we will see a fantastic defender before too long.
Lisandro Martinez
‘Licha’ is a fan favourite but has struggled this season. However, I am still hoping he can return to his form from the 2022/23 season as he showed he can be one of the best ball-playing defenders in the league.
Even with that in mind though, I still wouldn’t be too disappointed to see him leave.
Manuel Ugarte
Ugarte has shown great passion and a phenomenal ability to win the ball back. He still has work to do on the ball but we will see him shine when/if the team improves.
Kobbie Mainoo
Not much to be said here - everyone has struggled this season and Mainoo is no different, but as a very young player still, the England international is one United have to hold on to with his ability clear to see.
Christian Eriksen
This probably comes as a surprise (Even to me, as I initially had him on the sell list), but I think Eriksen is one of the only United players who has done very little wrong this season.
The Dane was my player of the season up until the point Amorim arrived, who clearly doesn’t see him as a fit, but I do not see why he doesn’t play more next to Ugarte.
Bruno Fernandes
The captain Fernandes has consistently been a creative monster since joining in 2020. One of the best chance-makers around, he has to stay in the heart of this team.
Alejandro Garnacho
There is little doubt Garnacho has struggled recently. Although rumours of a big-money move to Napoli may tempt some, I think he is simply another victim of this hopeless team.
When the side improves, his confidence will too and we will again see the real side of the player who has already scored so many big goals for the Red Devils at such a young age.
And a reminder - he is still the team’s third top goalscorer this season.
Amad
The team’s best player this season with 12 goals and assists in the league in 20 appearances so far. Amad is the only forward who has shown the confidence and willingness to run at defenders and threaten teams consistently this season.
Rasmus Hojlund
Although the striker has been poor this season, you should sooner look at the club rather than blame him. He is not ready to be United’s number nine every week and should never have been made so at this stage of his career.
But with the right development plan, he can be one of the best goalscorers in the league with his finishing ability.
Joshua Zirkzee
It is too soon to call with this new signing, so it wouldn’t be fair to put him on the sell list yet. Zirkzee has been poor this season but can still improve his goalscoring rate and his consistency. He has shown some great hold-up play so far as well at times, which was a needed profile in the squad.
Sell
Andre Onana
It pains me to say it because I believed in him until recently, but he has made too many errors despite being key in many different games so far. Like all of these in the sell list though, he can change everyone’s mind by cutting out the negatives and improving.
Diogo Dalot
Dalot won players’ player of the season last year but simply doesn’t seem to fit this system. He is not good enough in the final third to play as a wing-back, so unless Amorim wants to try him out as a right center-back (Which would certainly suit his profile), he should be moved on.
Tyrell Malacia
Malacia has never really impressed me since joining and much like Dalot, also seems less suited to this system compared to the last.
Casemiro
The five-time Champions League winner did well in his first season but less so since. I don’t buy claims he came to Manchester for the money as his attitude has never looked in question, but his performances have not been good enough despite his experience.
Marcus Rashford
Perhaps the most heartbreaking one for United fans, Rashford simply has to go after announcing his intent to look for a new challenge.
It is a shame we have not seen the return of the relentless goalscorer and dribbler we saw in some previous seasons, but it doesn’t look meant to be.
Antony
And finally, the Brazilian has had another poor season - failing to register a non-penalty goal or assist so far in 14 appearances. He just doesn’t look good enough to even be a squad player in this team at the moment. Pound for pound, he has to be the worst signing United have made in recent memory.