Our 2017-18 campaign ends on Saturday when Manchester United take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
After the game all the discussion will be on which players will be heading out of Old Trafford and whom Jose Mourinho will be bringing in to upgrade the squad.
Several reports already this year have suggested the boss is going to overhaul the squad in order for us to compete for the Premier League and Champions League titles.
There is no doubt that there will be a few changes in midfield, whilst the defence looks like it will also be a big priority for Jose.
Starting in goal, Sergio Romero could leave the club this summer. The 31-year-old is currently the backup goalkeeper and only getting action in the cups aside from an end of season Premier League game against Watford on Sunday. Given his age the Argentinian could certainly be expected to look for first-team opportunities elsewhere as he knows he has no chance of displacing David de Gea.
Marcos Rojo has had his season corrupted by injuries but even still the versatile defender hadn’t been a regular in the United team. Given that we are being linked to a number of centre-backs and left-backs for the upcoming summer transfer window I can see the Argentinian international being one of those to be shown the door. However, there are others that are probably a bigger priority to sell.
One of those is Luke Shaw. The 22-year-old has failed in a battle with Ashley Young to win the left-back role at Manchester United. This doesn’t say much for the England international, given that Young is 10 years older and not an out-and-out defender. As we will surely be signing a new left-back this summer, Shaw simply has to be moved on to free up space in both the squad and on the wage bill.
Another versatile defender is Daley Blind. The Dutch international has only made four Premier League starts this season despite having played in the left-back, centre-back and centre midfield roles for us over the past couple of seasons since Louis van Gaal brought him to England. And despite a good performance versus Watford this past weekend I can’t help but think the 28-year-old will be sold this summer.
The player most likely to be sold ahead of the start of the 2018-19 season is Matteo Darmian. The full-back has really struggled to convince Jose Mourinho to select him over the past two years and the rumours strongly linking him with a move to Juventus appear to be real. I can’t imagine an Italian international would turn down a move to Juventus when he’s only playing a backup role at Manchester United so expect Darmian to be flogged back to his homeland this summer.
There has also been a lot of speculation in recent months that Anthony Martial will be shown the door over the summer. The 22-year-old has struggled for a starting place in the first team, particularly following the signing of Alexis Sanchez in January, having already faced stiff competition from Marcus Rashford out on the left wing.
Jose Mourinho announced last month that he would not get in the way of the French international should he want to leave Manchester United. Juventus are also strongly linked with the Anthony Martial who was one of Louis van Gaal’s signings.
One player who looks set to leave but won’t be sold is Marouane Fellaini. The Belgium international’s contract expires at the end of the season and it appears the midfielder won’t be renewing it.
