Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of sacking manager Michael Carrick, and the upheaval may not stop at the dugout. As many as nine senior squad members could find themselves either on the chopping block or eyeing up a hasty getaway in the aftermath of Carrick's expected departure.
Dismal season so far
United have made a disastrous start to the season and head into the international break languishing 18th in the table after winning just one of their opening 10 Premier League matches. Defensive frailties have been a particular concern, with the Red Devils shipping 15 goals in their last five games in all competitions.
Sunday's chaotic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, despite a late fightback, looks to have been the final straw for Carrick, with the club now seemingly preparing for life without him. While United begin drawing up a shortlist of potential managerial replacements, they may also need to consider which players might follow him out of the exit door.
Defensive departures on the cards
Harry Maguire's rollercoaster Manchester United tenure appears to be reaching its natural conclusion as he enters the final few months of his contract. While the club hold the option to trigger a one-year extension, exercising it makes little footballing sense given that his form has been questionable for some time. The former club captain turns 34 in March and has been guilty of several costly lapses during United's latest defensive collapse.
Lisandro Martinez, once revered as United's defensive bedrock, has endured an alarming fall from grace over the past 18 months. Persistent fitness struggles have severely hampered the Argentine's reliability, leaving United's backline constantly reshuffled and chronically exposed. Martinez is contracted until 2027, and though Old Trafford chiefs retain a one-year extension option, there is no pressing need to trigger it given the defensive cover already on the books.
Luke Shaw's 12-year stint at Old Trafford is drawing to a close as he approaches the final months of his current contract. Relentless injury setbacks have taken a heavy toll on the England international, leaving him a shadow of the dynamic left back who once dominated the flank. Allowing Shaw to leave on a free transfer next summer would clear substantial room on the wage bill and pave the way for a much-needed new addition, such as Newcastle's Lewis Hall.
Midfield and attack in flux
Mason Mount's Manchester United move hasn't really worked. Plagued by persistent injury setbacks and underwhelming form, the former Chelsea midfielder now finds himself languishing down the pecking order behind Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. With his contract running until 2028, the two upcoming windows represent United's final realistic opportunity to recoup a respectable portion of their initial £55million investment.
Bruno Fernandes has long been linked with an Old Trafford exit and the club's current nosedive could finally push him toward the departure lounge. His public friction with Michael Carrick has noticeably strained relations with both the hierarchy and sections of the fanbase in recent weeks. Contracted until 2027 with a one-year option, United face a major decision over whether to prolong his stay or sanction a lucrative parting of ways.
Marcus Rashford looked destined to leave Manchester during the summer, only remaining at the club after a prospective move to Barcelona collapsed. Bridges were effectively burned when he handed in a transfer request in December 2024 and his underwhelming displays since returning to United done nothing to repair that fractured bond. The forward's deal expires in 2028, making 2027 the critical juncture for United to command any meaningful transfer fee for their academy graduate.
Joshua Zirkzee, brought in during the final months of Erik ten Hag's reign, has continually struggled to convince subsequent managers that he possesses the pedigree to lead United's frontline. The Dutch forward has spent the vast majority of his Old Trafford career confined to the bench, with Carrick even using the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo as makeshift No. 9s over Zirkzee. The 25-year-old cannot afford another campaign playing second - or, in some cases, third - fiddle in a misfiring side when he should be commanding a starting berth.
Kobbie Mainoo's Manchester United career was revitalised by Carrick's arrival earlier this year after the young midfielder was frozen out under Ruben Amorim. However, any incoming manager could just as easily decide against building around the academy graduate, placing his rapid development in serious jeopardy once again. United chiefs showed an openness to entertaining offers for the England star last year, and they may be tempted to cash in if the next manager prefers a different midfield profile.
Goalkeeping change
Tom Heaton has been an exemplary squad player and dependable cover over the past six seasons, but his playing days are rapidly winding down. The veteran goalkeeper's contract expires at the end of the season, with no extension option in place to prolong his second stint at the club. Having turned 40, the former England international is widely expected to call time on his playing career or transition into a full-time coaching capacity, making his exit a straightforward decision for a new managerial regime.
