Erik ten Hag has not been afraid to be ruthless during his first year at Manchester United, as Cristiano Ronaldo publicly found out as his contract was terminated just months into the Dutchman’s reign at the club. While several fringe players found themselves exiled from the first team shortly after he took charge last summer and could finally be set to leave the club.
According to reports at the beginning of the season, Ten Hag axed five members of the squad from the first team over fears of a bloated side. The changing room at Carrington, United’s training base, is only able to accommodate a maximum of 24 players – while United’s squad at the time was significantly higher.
Ten Hag was then forced to have difficult conversations with five squad members on the fringe of the team, including Phil Jones. The United forgotten man has struggled for playing time over several years through injuries, but was banished from the first-team picture by Ten Hag along with Brandon Williams, Axel Tuanzebe, Shola Shoretire and Tegen Mendi.
Several of the five left United on loan throughout the season, but now three members are set to leave on a permanent basis at the end of the season.
Jones was highly thought of when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, but repeated injuries has ensured that he has made just seven Premier League appearances in four years and with his contract up in the summer – it is unlikely that he will be handed a new deal and will depart on a free transfer.
Versatile defender Williams has been spotted on the bench in recent weeks amid an injury crisis at the back for Ten Hag, but he has been awarded just four minutes of football this season in the Carabao Cup and with his contract also expiring at the end of the season – he could follow Jones out of the door.
Williams may have more suitors than Jones, given he is just 23 and has shown promise at Premier League level previously, as has Tuanzebe after coming back from a loan at Stoke.
However, injuries have forced the defender to make just a handful of appearances in the Championship and he could be set to depart on a free transfer with Jones and Williams.
Ten Hag may need to make room on the wage bill in order for big-name summer signings, amid ambiguity over who will take over from the Glazers as the takeover process rumbles on, while three of the players previously banished by the Dutchman could be set to make way at the end of the season.
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