Following their 1-1 draw with Huddersfield at the start of May, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted some Manchester United players could have played their final game for the club.
That was before they lost 2-0 to relegated Cardiff on the final day of the season.
The Old Trafford boss is set to oversee a clear-out this summer, having seen his side finish sixth and fail to secure Champions League football.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to axe certain Manchester United players this summer
“I can’t talk about individuals now but there’s a chance you’ve seen the last of [some] players,” he said on 5 May.
Speaking after the Cardiff defeat, he said: “This league is a tough one, no matter who you play, and it’s a long season and towards the end we’ve performed under par.
“The big plus is the season’s over so we put a big line over it and look forward. We know we are too far behind where we want to be, that’s the 98 and 97 points – that’s exceptional from the two teams (City and Liverpool).”
Here, talkSPORT look at the Manchester United players who could move on before the start of next season.
1. Alexis Sanchez
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Alexis Sanchez has struggled for form since swapping Arsenal for Manchester United last year
Sanchez has failed to replicate his Arsenal at Manchester United. On a reported £500,000-a-week, the Chilean has scored just five goals since moving to Manchester in January 2018 and reports claim United want to get rid of the 30-year-old so badly they are willing to pay half of his salary if he finds a new club. He started for the first time in two months against Huddersfield, but went off injured in the 54th minute, which seemed to sum up his Manchester United career.
After the loss to Cardiff, he used Instagram to say: “It was a very tough season…the fans are the ones who deserve an apology as they always support you no matter what happens. Personally, I didn’t perform as much as I was expecting because of unpredictable injuries,” adding he has always remained professional and is certain United will return to the winning ways of the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
2. Paul Pogba
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Paul Pogba’s attitude has been questioned by fans and pundits this season
Pogba has been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid for most of the season. After initially rediscovering his form under Solskjaer, who replaced Jose Mourinho in December, the Frenchman has not scored from open play since February. And since Zinedine Zidane’s reappointment as Real Madrid boss in March, Pogba is understood to be one of the Spanish club’s top targets this summer. A verbal altercation with some United supporters at full-time on the final day of the season may have made his mind up to get out.
3. Romelu Lukaku
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Romelu Lukaku wants to play in Serie A before he retires
Lukaku recently admitted it would be ‘a dream’ to play in Serie A amid speculation surrounding his future. He has been in and out of Manchester United’s starting XI this season, with Solskjaer opting to play Marcus Rashford through the middle at times. It would not be a surprise if he moved on at the end of the season.
4. Ander Herrera
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Ander Herrera is a fans’ favourite at Old Trafford
The midfielder confirmed he is leaving the club and Paris Saint-Germain are believed to won the race to sign Herrera. Having failed to agree a new contract, the 29-year-old will leave the club with a Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup in his trophy cabinet.
5. Juan Mata
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Juan Mata is yet to agree a new deal with Manchester United
Mata’s contract expires on June 30 and will be available for free. There are no signs that suggest he is close to extending his stay at Old Trafford, though it has been reported United have offered him a one-year extension. Solskjaer remains hopeful the 31-year-old will stay.
“He’s a fantastic person and a fantastic player,” the manager said. “It’s up to him. I’ve had words with him and he knows how highly I regard him,” adding he will wait to see what happens.
6. Matteo Darmian
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Matteo Darmian is desperate to play regular first-team football
The right-back has made just seven appearances this season and is set to leave for free at the end of the 2018/19 campaign. Darmian harbours hopes of returning to the Italy national team and will need to play regular first-team football to do so, which is something United cannot offer him. He is behind Ashley Young and youngster Diogo Dalot in the Old Trafford pecking order.
7. Antonio Valencia
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Antonio Valencia’s ten-year stay at Manchester United appears to be coming to an end
Valencia has played just once under Solskjaer due to injury and form. The 33-year-old has been a great servant to the club since signing from Wigan in 2009, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups and the Europa League, with the game against Cardiff being his final game in a United shirt.
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