Manchester United's much-needed squad clearout will not be easy, with the club reportedly holding around £107m worth of players they cannot sell and three first-team regulars set to leave for free next summer.
The club's decision-makers have acknowledged that the man in the dugout is not the biggest problem, having unexpectedly decided to give Michael Carrick more time to turn things around. There has, hopefully, been a realisation that those at the top of the club have made too many mistakes.
Players under scrutiny
Players have nowhere to hide after some woeful performances, in which not just quality but also effort and commitment have been lacking. But it is easier to change a manager than a squad, and United have tried and failed to sell some big names.
Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist debated the issue on talkSPORT this week, with Stelling asking: "Who signs Zirkzee? Who signs Mazraoui? Who signs Dorgu? Who signs Ugarte? Who signs [brings back] Marcus Rashford?"
Moving those players on will be easier said than done, unless United are prepared to take a financial hit. Here is how they are valued according to Transfermarkt.
Valuations and struggles
Marcus Rashford (£29.4m) returned to the club largely because no one wanted to take on his whopping wages. Patrick Dorgu (£29.4m) hasn't been a terrible signing but hasn't kicked on as much as he should. Joshua Zirkzee (£16.8m) has seen United try and fail to find takers after reportedly setting a £30m price tag. Manuel Ugarte (£16.8m) would have gone in the summer had he not got injured at the World Cup. Noussair Mazraoui (£15.1m) hasn't been a complete disaster and wasn't particularly expensive (£15m from Bayern Munich), but United arguably need better.
Combined, those valuations total £107.5m.
Free agents
United have more control over the future of three out-of-contract players, with Stelling adding: "Shaw, Maguire and Martinez are all out of contract. I assume they will leave the club."
Luke Shaw's current contract, which expires in the summer, will almost certainly be his last. Harry Maguire has a clause for an extra year beyond this season, but it might be in everyone's best interests for United not to trigger it. Lisandro Martinez, judging by his recent rant against the club, wants out, and no one should stand in his way at the end of the season.
