The January transfer window is looming around the corner, and Man United boss Erik ten Hag has 3 players he is keen to be rid of at the beginning of the new year.
Man United’s form this season has been much the topic of debate amongst fans of the English game, with their hit and miss performances seeing them currently placed 6th in the Premier League standings with over half their season’s fixtures played.
There have been many fingers pointed at various players and management when it comes to who is responsible for this up and down form, with fans seemingly divided on the subject.
One thing is clear, that something needs to be done to make the Red Devils a title-contending side once more, and reports have it that Erik ten Hag is keen to offload 3 players in the January transfer window to make room for new talent.
The Man United boss had initially signalled his intentions to keep a firm hold on his players when the new window opened, but as the Mirror reports, there are 3 who he and his management team are eager to see the back off come the new year.
The first of these 3 players on his list, and perhaps the most surprising, is none other than the club’s £70 million 2022 purchase – Casemiro.
The Brazilian midfielder made a move to Old Trafford in August of 2022, having enjoyed a successful 9-year stint with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
During his time holding the midfield for Los Blancos, Casemiro won 3 La Liga titles, along with 5 Champions Leagues, 3 UEFA Super Cups, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 3 Supercopa De Espana trophies, and a Copa del Rey title.
His time with Man United has been somewhat positive for Casemiro, who received great praise for his contributions towards the club’s 2022/2023 season, which saw them finish 3rd in the Premier League, win the EFL Cup, and make it to the FA Cup Finals.
Sadly for fans at United, Casemiro has struggled to maintain his form going into the 2023/2024 season, and has been out of action since the start of November due to an injury picked up playing for Brazil. Erik ten Hag has said he doesn’t not expect him to return to action before Christmas.
The second player who the Man United boss is reportedly eager to be rid of may not come as any surprise to fans at the club.
Jadon Sancho, who hasn’t featured in a match for United since August this year due to personal disagreements with ten Hag, and has only played 3 times this season with little impact, is also on the firing line.
Depending on how you view his situation at the club, it may come as a relief that United are cutting ties with their £73 million Borussia Dortmund purchase.
Sancho has made 58 appearances for the Red Devils since arriving in 2021, scoring 9 times for them. It is unlikely that he will play any more game time for the club, with a transfer seemingly his only available option if he wants to progress his game.
The final player on Erik ten Hag’s 3-player hit list is another who may, or may not, come as a surprise to be seen on the chopping board.
Raphael Varane, who joined the club for £34 million from Real Madrid in 2021, is also reportedly up for sale come January the 1st.
The French centre-back made his name during his decade-long stint with Los Blancos, in which he scored 8 times alongside defending admirably for the Spanish side.
He picked up 3 La Liga trophies, 4 Champions League trophies, 4 FIFA Club World Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, 3 Supercopa De Espanas, and a Copa del Rey trophy during his time in a white shirt.
Varane is another player who is rumoured to be out of favour with Man United boss Erik ten Hag, meaning that his potential sale in January may come as no surprise to fans of the club.
There has also been a rumour that the side’s former No1 David De Gea may be making a return to Old Trafford to fill in for Andre Onana when he departs to keep the goal for Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations at the start of the new year.
With just over 3 weeks to go until the next transfer window opens, we will be sure to keep an eye on what ten Hag and Man United do with their squad and what effect it has on the rest of their 2023/2024 Premier League campaign!
