Manchester United have assembled their squad for the start of the new season, but will face several difficult decisions in 2027. Several players enter the last year of their contracts and will return from loan spells in the coming year, while academy youngsters will be looking to make a first-team breakthrough.
Contract dilemmas for key stars
United skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those to have entered the final 12 months of his current deal, though there is an option to extend it for a further year. In August, it was reported that Fernandes was in talks over a fresh contract, which would make him the club's top earner, following recent speculation over the 32-year-old's future at Old Trafford.
While United will be eager to extend their talisman's stay at the club, the Red Devils are set to make many more difficult calls next year. Centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are two of the players whose contracts are set to end next summer, albeit both deals include an option to extend for a further year. United recently focused their recruitment efforts on midfield, but could look to shake up the defence in the near future.
Maguire has been a fixture of Carrick's defence and brings vital experience to United's squad. However, he will be 34 by the end of the season, and the club may choose to part ways rather than extend the England international's deal, with the likes of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven already vying for a starting spot.
Martinez is also an automatic pick when fit, but the Argentine has only once since signing in 2022 started more than 20 league games in a season. If he can play regularly, United could opt to trigger his extension, but another significant spell on the sidelines could put his future at United in doubt.
Left-back and midfield concerns
Moving to left-back, the problem position of the summer transfer window is set to rear its head again in 2027. Luke Shaw is in the final months of his contract and, unlike the aforementioned stars, does not have an option to extend for a further 12 months. The experienced defender has been a regular in the side since overcoming his own fitness issues, but the 31-year-old is set for a demanding campaign after United failed to sign senior cover in his position.
A contract extension would allow United to still benefit from his experience in the short term while also preventing the club from having to sign two new players in his position. Young left-back Harry Amass is also nearing the end of his contract and continues to be on the fringes of the first team, despite a lack of recognised alternatives. The 19-year-old seeking regular football elsewhere may be the best way for his career to flourish, especially given the club's recent pursuit of left-back targets.
Midfielders Jack and Tyler Fletcher are also nearing the end of their deals, and the youngsters face fierce competition for places, though they could still make their mark before the end of the campaign. Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton is set to be out of contract and could hang up his boots at the end of the season, aged 41.
Loanees and academy prospects
The only senior players United currently have out on loan are goalkeepers Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. Onana has returned for a second temporary spell at Trabzonspor, with the deal not including an option to buy, though he is unlikely to feature in United's plans. Bayindir has joined Celta Vigo, with the Spanish side able to make the goalkeeper's stay permanent for £3.5million. Both shot-stoppers will have a year left on their United contracts at the end of their respective loan deals.
Youngsters Sekou Kone, Ethan Wheatley and Chido Obi are among the academy starlets who are hoping to send a message to Carrick during their time away from Old Trafford. The lack of orthodox strikers in United's first team squad means that a prolific season for Obi or Wheatley could see them rise up the pecking order.
While the JJ Gabriel saga rumbles on, United will be encouraged by several other academy starlets who could have their eyes on stepping up to the first team squad on a more regular basis. Shea Lacey has already scored his first senior goal for the club against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. The 19-year-old winger will hopefully continue to grow in confidence and impress Carrick to cement his spot in the first team setup. Noah Ajayi is two years younger than Lacey but is another highly-rated prospect on the left flank, who recently signed his first professional deal.
United splashed out an initial £4m, plus another £4m in add-ons, for Tottenham Hotspur prospect Tynan Thompson. The 18-year-old will be eyeing up a battle with Marcus Rashford and Patrick Dorgu to be considered an option on the left wing.
Potential 2027/28 squad
As things stand, the potential 2027/28 Manchester United squad could look like this: Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee. Defenders: Martinez, Yoro, Heaven, De Ligt, Shaw, Diego Leon, Dalot, Mazraoui. Midfielders: Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo, Mount, Ugarte, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Fernandes. Forwards: Rashford, Dorgu, Thompson, Amad, Lacey, Ajayi, Mbuemo, Cunha, Zirkzee, Sesko.
