Transfer News: Fabrizio Romano claims three Manchester United players set for exits this summer when their contracts expire
According to football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Manchester United are set to prepare for the departures of three first-team players at the end of the season, with the club not intent to extend their current deals.
With the summer transfer window looming upon us in a couple of months, United are expected to make a host of changes in the senior squad in an attempt to bolster the side and compete for trophies once again.
This season’s Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 confirmed that we would end the campaign without winning any silverware. With this, we now go five years without winning a title, extending our trophy drought further.
A new permanent manager is also expected to be appointed ahead of the new season, with the assumption that the new man will usher in a new era at Old Trafford and work at getting United back to where they were in a massive rebuild at the club.
Three exits scheduled
As part of this, the squad is expected to undergo some changes as Romano confirmed that the Red Devils are prepared to part ways with first-teams stars Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, and Juan Mata as the Manchester side have no intention to open talks with them regarding contract extensions.
Furthermore, they plan on keeping Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw at Old Trafford for a couple more years, with the former expected to complete signing his new deal in the coming days. Shaw, meanwhile, will be in talks with the club regarding a new deal soon.
Lingard has been at United the longest, coming through the ranks at Carrington and then working his way into the first team. He has seen his role at his boyhood club reduce drastically over the past few seasons, even going on loan to West Ham United in the second half of last season where he proved to be a revelation and helped them to a Europa League place in the league table.
Mata was brought over from Chelsea in a blockbuster deal for the Red Devils, with the Spaniard having been one of the brightest stars at Stamford Bridge prior to his move to Old Trafford. The former Blues man, like Lingard, has seen his appearances for the first team reduce over the years. At 33, his age may perhaps also be a factor for his limited game time.
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Cavani was signed for free in the summer of 2020 after tearing it up in France for Paris Saint-Germain, and the veteran striker was brought in to bolster our attacking ranks. His energy and passion on the pitch made him an instant fan favourite, but with injuries taking their toll on the 35-year-old this term, we have hardly been able to call upon his services in games where we have desperately needed a goal.
It will no doubt be hard to say goodbye to these stars, given how well-liked they were at the club by the supporters. If they are to depart for free this summer, we can remember all the good times they gave us – especially Mata and Lingard, whose goals were crucial in our last FA Cup win in 2015.
