Opinion: Man United’s four big-name casualties heading into January – and why it’s time to move on | OneFootball

The January transfer window is now upon us, and that means more speculation about players coming into Old Trafford, but could a few be leaving in the new year as well?

More will leave in the summer, too, but with Ruben Amorim coming into the club and favouring a 3-4-3 formation, could this lead to a few big names leaving as they don’t fit the new system?

Now, some players like Christian Eriksen or Victor Lindelof leaving would not be a shock, but I am going to list a few players who might be moved on to free up funds as United are on a tight budget due to PSR regulations.

Marcus Rashford:

Let’s get the obvious one out the way first; unless you have been living under a rock for the last couple of weeks, then you know all about Rashford looking to leave the club.

With being dropped for the Manchester Derby and then giving an interview to Henry Winter the next day, declaring he wants a new challenge, this is a no-brainer for all involved.

United would move on an underperforming high earner, and his sale would result in PSR profit, but considering he is a home-grown lad, it would still leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Then again, nothing ends like it should.

Rashford gets a new challenge and goes to have a new lease on life away from United. Getting away from all the toxicity may help him rediscover his love for the game.

Lisandro Martinez:

Now, after his first season, this would be unthinkable, but times change, and sadly, this is one that might have to happen.

Martinez is a wonderful player who is capable of making incisive passes through the opposition’s lines during a game, couple that with typical Argentinian aggression in tackling, and you have a cult hero.

But with a change of formation, it does look like he is struggling to adapt to this new role at the left of a back-three. Being asked to defend more space may expose some weaknesses to his game, and it’s no secret United like Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton.

They may revisit their pursuit in the summer, and Martinez may be someone who, if a big bid comes in, might be sacrificed to get someone similar but with a better physique for the position.

Diogo Dalot:

I must be honest, I have never been 100% on Diogo Dalot. He has some good moments but too many bad ones. Apart from a good spell a couple of years ago under Solskjaer, he has been too inconsistent, and, again, the new role of wing-back may not be right for him.

The wingbacks will play a key role for Ruben Amorim going forward, and I don’t think Dalot does enough defensively or in attack to contribute. In this system, the wing-backs need to be more attacking and aggressive, and I don’t think Dalot can adapt to the position in the near future.

With rumours that Real Madrid may need a new right-back, surely if a bid materializes, then United cash in on Dalot to fund a new wingback more suited to Amorim’s demands.

Bruno Fernandes:

(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Now I know what you are thinking: how can we get rid of our most consistent player from the last few years? Well, United have done it before and need to look at doing it again.

Fernandes has always been at his best in chaos, a man who thrives on broken play and games that are stretched. But with Ruben Amorim’s new system, more emphasis on controlling games and possession might put Fernandes on the outside long term.

Also, Fernandes has played over 550 club games in his career. That is a lot of mileage on the clock for any player. As seen with United over the last few weeks, they need to get younger and more physical to not only play Amorim’s style but to cope with the demands of the league they have neglected to address in recent years.

Bruno has been one of the shining lights in the darkness, but his time might be up, and this formation will shake the team hard. It will be only a few who may survive the brutal cull that is coming.

United also do have one more player – but this would be a total break glass in case of emergency – and that would be Alejandro Garnacho.

If he cannot find a place in this system, then United could command a big fee, although this would be an extreme option and only if Amorim can’t coach him into one of the forward roles in his new system.

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