MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: How More Than TEN Stars Could Be Exit-bound
Whatever fate awaits Erik ten Hag this summer, the number of Manchester United stars making an Old Trafford exit could hit double figures as new co-owners Ineos ring the changes.
Anthony Martial will leave as a free agent and he could be followed by Raphael Varane and Brandon Williams when their contracts run out in June. United must also decide whether to offer Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton extensions.
It's anticipated that Sofyan Amrabat will be allowed to return to Fiorentina when his loan expires, with United unlikely to take up an option to sign the Moroccan for £21.4million.
United's new hierarchy of chief executive Omar Berrada, football director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox is not yet in place, but decisions will have to be made over selling a number of big names as United look to comply with Financial Fair Play.
Industry sources have told Confidential that Casemiro, Antony, Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are among those who could be sold, although there's an understanding that it won't be practical to offload too many at one time.
The number of stars leaving Manchester United this summer under new co-owners Ineos could hit double figures
Anthony Martial (L) will leave as a free agent, while Raphael Varane (R) is also out of contract
Casemiro (L) and Christian Eriksen (R) are among the under-contract players that could be sold
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There are also six players out on loan and Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Donny van de Beek, Facundo Pellistri, Hannibal Mejbri and Alvaro Fernandez could all make permanent moves.
The clear-out would make way for some of the young academy talent that has emerged under Ten Hag this season and a number of new signings this summer.
Even though FFP will squeeze the budget again, United are expected to be in the market for a striker, central midfielder and at least one if not two centre-backs and full-backs.
While Ineos continue to plan for the future with Ten Hag in charge, the situation remains fluid and is likely to hinge on how United finish this season.
Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Championship side Coventry City will be crucial in determining whether the Dutchman's second campaign ends with a return to Wembley or continues to fizzle out.
Mason Greenwood, meanwhile, is one of a number of players out on loan that could too depart
Roche in budget Bernabeu recce
Manchester City fans flying back from their Champions League quarter-final in Madrid last week were surprised to see United's chief operating officer Collette Roche on the budget Easyjet flight.
Confidential learns that Roche was taking a look at the spectacularly remodelled Bernabeu as part of her role on the taskforce exploring plans to regenerate Old Trafford.
Although the club have backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's vision to knock down the stadium and rebuild on the same site, the costs involved may force United to look at revamping Old Trafford instead.
It would involve overcoming significant obstacles and wouldn't be cheap either - Real Madrid have spent £1.5billion giving the Bernabeu a makeover - but the taskforce are keeping both options on the table.
Before Ratcliffe's investment, Roche would have been more likely to travel to Spain in business class. However, the efficiency drive being conducted by Ineos and their restructuring consultants Interpath to save money and invest in football means that even senior executives have to cut their cloth accordingly. Some have had their corporate credit cards withdrawn, and other employees no longer have access to chauffeur driven cars.
United's chief operating officer Collette Roche made a trip to the Bernabeu to look at the remodelled stadium
Real have spent £1.5billion giving the Bernabeu a makeover, an option United's own taskforce could use
Utd on trail of 'Gustavinho'
A scout from United was in Porto Alegre last week to run the rule over Gremio left winger Gustavo Nunes, one of the latest rising stars to come out of Brazil.
Gustavinho, as he has been nicknamed by Gremio fans, only made his senior debut for the club in February but has already attracted interest from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
The 18-year-old was a half-time substitute in Gremio's 2-0 Copa Libertadores group defeat to Huachipato, so at least the scout didn't have a wasted trip.
United are said to be putting greater focus on emerging South American talent in a bid to get more value for their money as Financial Fair Play continues to restrict the budget.
A scout from United was in Porto Alegre last week to watch Gremio left winger Gustavo Nunes
Ten Hag sticks to Wembley way
Stick to the plan is one of Ten Hag's favourite phrases, and the United boss will follow his own advice when it comes to preparing for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.
United managers have taken different approaches to big games at Wembley in the past. Jose Mourinho, for instance, had his players training for two days at Fulham's Motspur Park complex before the FA Cup semi against Tottenham in 2018 because United had played at Bournemouth in midweek.
But Ten Hag will follow a similar plan to last season when he conducted his pre-match press conference at Carrington before United travelled down to London, staying in the same hotel and training on university pitches before the FA Cup semi-final and final against Brighton and Manchester City.
Erik ten Hag will follow the same plan to last season when it comes to travelling to Wembley
United will conduct the pre-match press conference at Carrington before travelling down to London
U18s blaze trail for academy
There has been precious little for United fans to genuinely get excited about this season. That, however, does not apply to an academy set-up that is going to be the envy of rivals for years to come with so many bright talents looking capable of making the grade.
On Tuesday, United's youngsters sealed the U18 Premier League North title with victory away to Wolves. United's U18s have been a class apart under Adam Lawrence this season and can now complete the Double when they take on Man City in the Premier League Cup on April 23.
A look back at the last time United won the North league, they boasted a squad that included James Garner, Teden Mengi, Tahith Chong, Greenwood, Brandon Williams, Angel Gomes, Ethan Laird and more. Many of those have gone on to make it as a full-time professional, either at United for a while or elsewhere.
And the manager for the last U18s title win? That would be Kieran McKenna, the man now on the cusp of back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League. So Lawrence's current crop find themselves in esteemed company.
United's youngsters, led by Adam Lawrence, sealed the U18 Premier League North title on Tuesday
Back Rooney for Beeb slot
Wayne Rooney's public apology for pulling out of Saturday's Match of the Day after hurting his back on holiday - and the subsequent acceptance by host Gary Lineker - only increases the chances of United's record scorer being part of the BBC punditry team for this summer's Euros.
The Beeb have courted Rooney for some time, believing his views will add credibility to their coverage. Not only was he also England's top scorer until Harry Kane beat his record, but he has experienced massive highs and lows at the European Championship.
In 2004, he was regarded as the most exciting young player in the world as he took England to the quarter-finals in Portugal before he was struck down by injury. On the flip side, in 2016 he was part of Roy Hodgson's side humiliated by Iceland.
Wayne Rooney took to social media to explain why he had to pull out of Match of the Day duty
It is however understood that the former Man United man could be a big part of the BBC punditry team for this summer's Euros
Clampdown on rogue traders at OT
United's last home game against Liverpool saw a crackdown on rogue traders and unlicensed products being sold around Old Trafford.
The operation, which was led by Trafford Council but involved Greater Manchester Police and United's brand protection team, also targeted parking offences and taxis illegally plying for hire.
More than a hundred taxi drivers and street traders selling merchandise outside the stadium were spoken to before the game, and food hygiene was also tested at fast food stalls.
While United have no wish to drive small traders out of business, the club say they want to ensure there is both 'quality and legality' in the products being sold around the ground.
There was a crackdown on rogue traders and unlicensed products being sold around Old Trafford against Liverpool
Fans bowled over at Bournemouth
The issue of collecting returned tickets at an away match reared its head again on Saturday after a similar issue arose before United's trip to Brentford two weeks ago.
United initially informed successful applicants for the game against Bournemouth that they would have to collect their tickets at the Vitality Stadium, before notifying them on April 4 that the collection point had been moved to the Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre - a five-minute walk from the away end.
Meanwhile, fans who missed out on a ticket in the initial ballot but managed to secure one at a later date after the club put some returned tickets back on sale were told they would have to collect theirs directly from the Vitality Stadium.
But the tickets were in fact held at the Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre, along with those for successful first ballot applicants, leading to some confusion.
Sources told Confidential in January that United will continue to ask fans to collect their tickets for selected away fixtures as they look to clamp down on them being passed on.
There were issues when it came to United fans collecting their tickets for the game against Bournemouth on Saturday
Tickets were held at the Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre, with the club looking to clamp down on them being passed on
Erik hoping history repeats itself
Ten Hag still has work to avoid one embarrassing record after Saturday's draw at Bournemouth left United with a negative goal difference after 32 games.
Not since the early Sir Alex Ferguson side of 1989-90 have United finished a league campaign in which they have scored fewer goals than they have conceded. On that occasion, they netted 46 and let in 47 - a similar record to this season (47-48).
Fergie did have the silver lining of winning his first Old Trafford trophy, the FA Cup, in May 1990 and Ten Hag will hope that's an omen ahead of their semi-final against Mark Robins' Coventry City on Sunday.
United shot to pieces
Here's a damning stat for you: the pitiful Derby County side which won just 11 points during the 2007-08 season had faced 526 shots by the 32nd game of the season. Now guess how many Erik ten Hag's United have faced up to that same point - 574.
United conceded 20 shots in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday, taking their tally over the last six Premier League games to 157.
They have allowed their opponents at least 20 shots in each of those fixtures, the second-longest streak for a single team in Premier League history since Opta began tracking the metric in the 2003-04 season.
Blackpool remain the only side to have fared worst, allowing at least 20 shots in eight consecutive matches in their solitary top-flight campaign in 2010-11.
United have now faced more shots than the Derby County side that picked up just 11 points in the 2007-08 season
They have faced 157 shots over the last six Premier League games, with opponents allowed at least 20 in each fixture
You can swear by United fans
When Alejandro Garnacho landed himself in hot water at the weekend by 'liking' comments that appeared to undermine manager Erik ten Hag, it was a timely reminder of the perils awaiting Premier League stars on social media.
Now a new survey of fans using X-rated language online has put United third in a table of Premier League clubs. Wolves lead the way with Tottenham in second, followed by United who are narrowly ahead of Liverpool with 9.9 per cent of social media posts by their fans containing swear words.
Language learning platform Preply also used AI to analyse the sentiment of every profane comment based on positivity or negativity, https://bangcacloai.com/ with United finishing fifth.
The full results can be seen here - website
Alejandro Garnacho (pictured) 'liking' posts criticising Ten Hag was a reminder of the perils awaiting Premier League stars on social media
Friends reunited at U21s clash
Confidential headed down to Old Trafford on Friday night to see how the U21s fared against a Liverpool side eager to exact some revenge on behalf of the U18s after their 9-1 battering by United.
The press box was dominated by those of a Liverpool persuasion, but among the near 15,000-strong crowd there were plenty of familiar faces for United.
Tyler Blackett and Ashley Fletcher, two academy graduates from yesteryear, as well as Devonte Redmond, were in attendance as Travis Binnion's side found themselves overrun in a 3-0 defeat.
The directors' box was brimming with academy alumni, coaches, scouts and friends and family, but it was the ex-players that caught the eye.
Sources have said repeatedly that they believe United's academy has quietly nurtured some of the country's finest players that are ready to break through in the years to come - and many of those with links to the club are eager for an early look.
Former United academy star Tyler Blackett (R) was among a number of graduates who were in attendance to watch the United U21 team face Liverpool
Margaret Aspinall (pictured), whose son James died on the day of the Hillsborough disaster aged 18, spoke to United U12 and U13 players this week
Hillsborough mum educates kids
While there were memorial wreaths placed on each dugout during the U21s meeting at Old Trafford, as well as a perfectly observed minute's silence, Hillsborough education has never been more important for United and clubs up and down the country.
Both United boss Erik ten Hag and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called on supporters recently to cease with tragedy chanting following some unsavoury recent incidents at matches.
Education goes far beyond many of the adults that attend first-team games, and so United arranged for their U12s and U13s to have a special session at Liverpool's training ground where they heard from a mother who lost her son during the Hillsborough disaster.
Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died that day aged 18, addressed the young academy players after one of United's coaches had earlier given them an introduction to the disaster as well as the dangers and wrongdoing of tragedy chanting.
It may seem small but fans of the future can and will be more educated than those who have come before. For United, it's about setting the tone on and off the pitch.
Anthony MartialJonny EvansChristian Eriksen
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