The Red Devils, currently languishing in 13th place in the Premier League as of early April 2025, have endured a challenging season, prompting a drastic response to reshape the team and restore their competitive edge.
According to sources like the Manchester Evening News and the Daily Mail, at least 10 players are expected to leave Old Trafford, including high-profile names such as Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, and Tom Heaton. This mass exodus is aimed at raising funds and clearing wage space to facilitate new signings, with a top striker high on Amorim’s priority list.
Marcus Rashford, a homegrown talent who has been with United since his youth, is among the most notable potential departures. Currently on loan at Aston Villa, Rashford has shown signs of rediscovering his form, registering four assists in nine appearances.
Villa hold a £40 million option to buy, and given United’s plans to raise funds, his permanent exit seems likely. Similarly, Jadon Sancho, on loan at Chelsea, is expected to leave United for good. Chelsea have an obligation to buy him for £20-25 million if they finish 14th or higher in the Premier League, though they can opt out by paying a £5 million penalty.
Antony, another winger, has impressed during his loan spell at Real Betis, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 11 appearances. United are reportedly keen to cash in on the Brazilian, who they signed for £85 million in 2022, though they would need at least £32.5 million to avoid a loss under Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
In midfield, Casemiro’s departure appears imminent. The 33-year-old Brazilian, who joined United for £70 million in 2022, is the club’s highest earner at £350,000 per week. His performances have declined, and United are eager to offload his wages, potentially accepting a fee as low as £15 million to comply with PSR.
Christian Eriksen, whose contract expires in June 2025, is also set to leave as a free agent, having already expressed his readiness for a new challenge. Defenders Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are in the same boat, with their contracts also ending this summer.
Lindelof, after eight seasons at United, has seen limited minutes under Amorim, while Evans, at 37, is expected to retire alongside 38-year-old goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who has not played a single minute this season.
The funds generated from these departures—potentially up to £129 million, as estimated by the Manchester Evening News—along with the significant wage savings, are earmarked for new signings to bolster Amorim’s squad.
A top striker is a priority, with United’s current forwards, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, struggling for consistency. Hojlund, signed for £72 million in 2023, has failed to score in his last 20 games across all competitions, prompting speculation about his own future.
Reports from outlets like The Sun and BBC Sport indicate that United have identified Udinese’s 24-year-old Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca as their top target, while Ipswich’s 22-year-old English forward Liam Delap, valued at £40 million, is also on their radar.
Amorim’s vision includes not just a new striker but also reinforcements across multiple positions, with names like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff linked to the club.
This overhaul reflects a broader strategy under United’s new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has been vocal about the club’s past overspending on players like Casemiro, Antony, and Sancho, whom he labeled as either “not good enough or overpaid” in an interview with Gary Neville.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS-led regime is focused on sustainable squad building, prioritizing younger, high-potential talents over expensive veterans. However, the scale of this clear-out raises questions about squad depth and stability, especially with United already struggling this season.
Fans on platforms like X are divided—some see the departures as a necessary purge to fund a rebuild, while others worry about losing experienced players like Casemiro and Eriksen without guaranteed replacements.
As the summer approaches, United’s ability to balance these exits with quality incomings will be crucial in determining whether Amorim can steer the club back to its former glory.
