Rashford, Lindelof and more – which Utd players are under pressure?
Man United are set to lose up to TEN PLAYERS in a huge summer clearout – but with Rashford out of form, Telles found wanting and Lindelof part of a creaky defence… who else will be looking to impress in front of new boss Erik ten Hag at Crystal Palace?
- Manchester United are expecting to lose up to 10 first-team players this summer
- Red Devils’ final game of a miserable season is at Crystal Palace on Sunday
- Sportsmail takes a look at who needs to impress at Selhurst Park this weekend
- Erik ten Hag will be in attendance for the match ahead of taking the United job
Manchester United are set for a clearout like no other in the club’s recent history when the season ends.
As detailed by Sportsmail, the Red Devils are set to lose up to 10 players this summer with incoming boss Erik ten Hag ready to make a fresh start at Old Trafford.
Edinson Cavani, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Lee Grant will depart as free agents – with Paul Pogba likely to follow suit too as the highest-profile name of the 10.
With Ten Hag going to be in attendance for Sunday’s final game of the season at Crystal Palace, Sportsmail takes a look at who else who will look to impress the Dutchman to avoid being considered for sale.
Edinson Cavani (left) and Paul Pogba are two of up to 10 Manchester United players set to leave
Incoming manager Erik ten Hag will watch United’s clash at Crystal Palace in person on Sunday
At present next summer United will have three left backs on their books in Luke Shaw, Brandon Williams (who can also play at right back) and Alex Telles.
With Shaw the established first-choice left back, it would appear that he would retain this status under Ten Hag.
Williams’ versatility will likely appeal to Ten Hag – who could be short of right backs (more to come on the latter later).
And for the reasons above that could put pressure on Telles to perform. The full back has an excellent delivery but his defending does leave a lot to be desired often.
In a crunch clash at Arsenal last month, which they lost 3-1, Telles was at fault for both of the Gunners’ opening goals – a deficit they couldn’t claw back.
Alex Telles (left) was defensively at fault for two goals as United lost 3-1 at Arsenal on April 23
VICTOR LINDELOF
It’s unlikely that Lindelof will go, on the account that would leave Raphael Varane as the only centre back whose place isn’t in doubt, but Ten Hag will be looking closely at all of his defensive options.
United have conceded 56 league goals so far this season their worst defensive output in Premier League history – all with a match to play.
Lindelof has been a major contributor to that. The Swede has played 27 times in the top flight this season and during those matches they have shipped 46 goals.
Many critics of the 27-year-old state that he isn’t assertive enough and Ten Hag will be keen to see if the defender can lead from the front going into next season.
United have conceded 56 league goals so far with Victor Lindelof in defence for 46 of those
DIOGO DALOT
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the chopping block, United’s right-back department looks a little threadbare.
Diogo Dalot is the only recognised right back, although Williams can play there too on the account he naturally right-footed.
After being repeatedly overlooked by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Dalot has become the chosen right back for outgoing interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Dalot provides a greater attacking threat than Wan-Bissaka but has his defensive flaws – with critics pointing towards a lack of positional sense.
With the Portugal international set to face Wilfried Zaha on Sunday, Ten Hag will be keeping a keen eye on how he fares in that test.
Diogo Dalot is the current first-choice right back but can still be exposed defensively
MARCUS RASHFORD
Marcus Rashford’s season is a microcosm of Manchester United’s. One of a great promise that has been beyond underwhelming.
After missing the start of the season due to injury, Rashford returned on October 16 against Leicester City. And even though he marked it with a goal, they lost 4-2.
He was to score in the next match (a 3-2 win over Atalanta) and once more two games later (in a 3-0 win at Tottenham) but then came the famine: a two-and-a-half month goal drought.
Goals in back-to-back games in January followed (3-1 win at Brentford and 1-0 against West Ham) but that’s as good as it has got for the England interantional – who netted since January 22.
The 24-year-old is on a 15-game goalless run and it’s clear his confidence is low when playing. The spark to his play has been jaded this term with nothing seemingly coming off for him.
Like Lindelof, it’s remote that Rashford will be off this summer but Ten Hag will need his No 10 reinvigorated come pre-season if United are to fare better than this torrid campaign.
Five goals in 32 appearances for his boyhood club is a tally well below Rashford’s standards.
Marcus Rashford has only scored five goals in 32 appearances for United so far this poor term
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