Manchester United were one of the biggest winners of the summer transfer window, with three high-profile recruits massively bolstering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad for the 2021/22 season.
In Tom Heaton, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, Solskjaer looked content with the incomings at Old Trafford. The sensational return of Cristiano Ronaldo came out of nowhere, one that took the Reds’ summer spending further clear of the £100 million mark.
After another trophyless season for Manchester United, the pressure will be on Solskjaer to deliver this time around with the squad full of quality and depth he’s got.
As far as the outgoings are concerned, though, Daniel James was the only player sold, while Brandon Williams, Axel Tuanzebe and James Garner were among the academy products to leave Old Trafford on temporary loan spells.
Yet, there must be a growing desire from the Red Devils to recoup some money by offloading the deadwood from their wage bills. The Manchester United squad is currently bloated with players who are unlikely to feature much under Solskjaer this season.
Trimming the wage bill by a few players in the next transfer window would give the Norwegian tactician a chance to address a couple more problematic areas of his squad. That being said, here are three players United must sell during the 2022 January transfer window.
3 players Manchester United must sell in the January transfer window
#3 Jesse Lingard
Considering the degree of the Red Devils’ stiff competition for minutes in midfield and attack, it was a big surprise to see Jesse Lingard stay put at the club.
Lingard, 28, enjoyed a successful short loan spell at West Ham United last season, helping them clinch a berth in the Europa League. David Moyes was more than happy to welcome the England international back but the Hammers failed to agree to Manchester United’s £30 million valuation.
Currently in his prime, Lingard, who has entered the final 12 months on his contract, must move on from his boyhood club to revive his career.
Manchester United must definitely not stand in his way when the transfer window reopens in January. And it is freshly claimed the Hammers will prioritise the English midfielder’s signing in the New Year.
#2 Phil Jones
With the signing of Raphael Varane, Phil Jones is currently United’s fifth choice centre-back.
Jones’ Old Trafford career has been plagued with various injury problems, thereby, pulling him behind all these years from unlocking his true potential.
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The English centre-back hasn’t played competitive football since January 2020 due to a serious knee injury. The 29-year-old, who just like Lingard is in the final year of his contract, is currently building his match fitness by playing in Manchester United’s behind-the-closed-doors friendlies.
He is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford and the club must offload him during the winter transfer window. However, the problem in selling Jones might be finding new buyers for him.
#1 Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial cost big bucks thanks to his burgeoning reputation in France then but six years into his stay at Old Trafford and he seemingly finds himself behind the likes of Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo in the attacking pecking order.
The French international’s time at Old Trafford so far has been a mixed one; inconsistency and injury problems have seen Martial’s stature dramatically shrink over the last 12-15 months. Luckily, he is 25 and set to enter the prime years of his career. This should motivate the forward to leave Old Trafford and be a regular starter elsewhere.
Without any second thoughts, the Red Devils must sell Martial in January and raise funds to sign a quality defensive midfielder.
