Manchester United eyeing targets running down contracts in next summer transfer window
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, priced out of a marquee move by his club this summer, will still only be 25 in the next summer transfer window.
United manager Erik ten Hag is a keen admirer of Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has the same duration left on his contract as Osimhen.
There are no assurances United will tie down Aaron Wan-Bissaka on a new long-term arrangement. Wan-Bissaka, 25, is out of contract next year but United have the option of an additional year.
Bayern Munich trio Joshua Kimmich, Alphonso Davies and Leroy Sane, Real Madrid pair Eder Militao and Rodrygo, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and England strikers Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins are all under contract until 2025.
Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk’s deals with Liverpool are also up in 2025 but United have not bought a player from their greatest rivals since Allenby Chilton in 1938.
In recent years, United signed Raphael Varane and Donny van de Beek when they had less than 12 months remaining on their deals.
Scott McTominay, a starter for Solskjaer, is now a squad player, United’s defence has been rebranded with a Latino flavour and Ten Hag had the courage to inform David de Gea he could clear out his locker two years after Solskjaer had intended to. He fudged it.
These are not ruthless calls by Ten Hag. Maguire was good enough for an unsuccessful United side but is not good enough for a successful United side. He was rumbled with expectations raised for the 2021-22 campaign and his club form has never recovered.
One of the last nails in Maguire’s coffin was against Sevilla. Across the two legs, United were 2-0 up without Maguire on the pitch. With him, they were trounced 5-0.
