Keep, Loan or Sell? Verdict on Manchester United squad ahead of summer overhaul
By Tushar Bahl
Chris Smalling
Smalling was surprisingly offered a three-and-a-half-year contract in December. And while he has performed well in certain games, he is too error prone to be a starting centre back for Manchester United. It will be difficult to attract suitors who will be willing to pay the wages Smalling earns at United, and he is a reliable back-up. So it makes sense to keep him as a squad player and then sell next summer.
Verdict: Keep
Victor Lindelof
Lindelof is one Manchester United player who can go into this summer with his head held high. The Swede has been United’s most consistent performer this season and deserves to be a starting centre back next season. He is United’s only defender who can play out from the back, and he will get even better once he gets a better defender alongside.
Verdict: Keep
Eric Bailly
Bailly made such a great start to his Manchester United career, that there were suggestions that he could be the next Nemanja Vidic. However, in the last couple of years, he has seen his career stall as a result of constant injuries. It doesn’t help that whenever he plays, he is inconsistent and often too clumsy and rash. He is one player who will attract a lot of suitors. But he is a much better compared to the likes of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, so it would make sense to keep him for now and see if he can mature into a better defender.
Verdict: Keep
Phil Jones
As far as contract extensions go, the decision to award Phil Jones a four-and-a-half year contract was one of the most ridiculous decisions the club have made in recent history. Jones is both injury prone and error prone. He is a liability more often than not but it will be very difficult to find a seller for him. But keeping him does not make any sense whatsoever. So it doesn’t matter how much they get for him, United should look to sell (even though they probably won’t).
Verdict: Sell
Marco Rojo
Rojo is another player who was surprisingly offered a contract extension just over an year ago. He has made just two league starts for United this season and has been awful in both games. Whenever he plays, it looks like he will either get sent off or give away a goal. United simply have to get rid of him this summer.
Verdict: Sell at all costs
Axel Tuanzebe
Tuanzebe spent the season on loan at Aston Villa in the Championship and has earned rave reviews for his performances despite a couple of injury issues. He is versatile, talented and has great potential. Ideally, United will sell the likes of Jones, Smalling/Bailly and Rojo and give him a chance in the first team next season.