Steven Gerrard has named seven Manchester United players he believes are not good enough and should be moved on, prompting a look at how the side could line up without them. The former Liverpool captain called out Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez and Benjamin Sesko during an appearance on The Overlap Daily.
Potential starting XI without the seven
With everyone fit and available, goalkeeper Senne Lammens could line up behind a back four of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot. Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo could sit in central midfield behind playmaker Bruno Fernandes, with Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford on the flanks providing service for Bryan Mbeumo.
The potential XI reads: Lammens; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro, Dalot; Tielemans, Mainoo; Cunha, Fernandes, Rashford; Mbeumo.
Replacement targets listed
With a new left-back needed to replace Shaw, United could look at Atletico Madrid's Alex Grimaldo and Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies. At centre-back, Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni is entering his prime and would be a statement signing.
In midfield, Como's Nico Paz is touted after last weekend's Champions League meeting, with the Spaniard, once of Real Madrid, ready for a big move. Brighton's Jack Hinshelwood is also a potential target. In attack, Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Bournemouth's Rayan are mentioned as astute signings, while Harry Kane's plans are worth monitoring in case he fancies a Premier League return to chase Alan Shearer's goals record.
Gerrard's criticism detailed
Speaking on The Overlap Daily, Gerrard pulled no punches. He said: "Harry Maguire's had a really good career. Luke Shaw, I played with Luke, he was top in his day. They're not Manchester United players anymore. They should have been moved on quicker."
On Martinez, he added: "Lisandro Martinez last year, only interested in the World Cup. He's seen that the players haven't [been] signed, the four or five that he wants, in his world. Selfishly comes out and speaks, then gets injured, goes off at half-time with a kick [against Leeds] and he's fit the next game. That stinks to me."
He continued: "You look at the midfield, they signed a player from Chelsea, £50million, [Andrey] Santos, not a Manchester United player. Then it [the responsibility] goes to recruitment higher up. Why are you signing players that are not good enough to play for Manchester United? These [are] the only players you can attract now, but he's not a Manchester United player. [Carlos] Baleba, £70million. He's got potential. He's not ready to help Manchester United compete at the top of the league now."
On the flanks, he said: "When I played against United, you had [Ryan] Giggs, [David] Beckham, world-class players. Young Amad [Diallo]. Hot and cold. When he's good, he's good, but hasn't shown anything this season."
Gerrard also questioned Cunha's contribution, saying: "Cunha's dropped. So what's he doing? Is he not training right? Is he one of the toxic players? They've just signed him recently. Why is a Brazil international not starting? So, he's not doing something right. He's part of the problem as well. [Benjamin] Sesko, injured at the moment. Not good enough. They've just got problems all over the place."
