Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to axe eight Man United stars
Football
By
Mirror
| Apr 04, 2019
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to axe eight players as he overhauls his squad this summer.
United's usual three in, three out policy is set to be jettisoned as Solskjaer makes the sweeping changes needed to turn his squad into genuine title contenders.
The Red Devils are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and are in a desperately tight race to qualify for next season's competition - although their 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday left them playing catch-up.
But whether or not United secure a top-four spot, time is up for several players.
Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian are all set to leave. Ander Herrera and Juan Mata could join them, as both are out of contract at the end of the season.
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United have been speaking to Herrera and Mata's agents for 18 months, but the wage demands of both players has prevented contract extensions from being agreed and time is now running out.
And the Daily Star reports that Eric Bailly, Alexis Sanchez and Fred could also be on their way out.
One player United are determined not to see leave is goalkeeper David de Gea.
Solskjaer will not be forced into selling De Gea this summer — even if United fail to agree a new contract with him.
United have been in talks with goalkeeper De Gea and his representatives for 18 months now, but no deal has yet been reached.
De Gea, who has a year left on his current contract, is understood to want in excess of £350,000 a week, and the club and his camp have yet to reach a compromise figure.
United are understood to be under no financial pressure to sell and could allow De Gea to enter the final season of his deal with his future still unresolved.
That would raise the prospect of the Red Devils losing a £75million-rated star for nothing next summer, if no extension is agreed, but they remain hopeful of coming to terms.
A short-list of targets has been drawn up by Solskjaer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward that includes Borussia Dortmund's £100m-rated England teenage international Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi, Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly are also on the radar.
Other players scouted by United ahead of the summer window include Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Benfica attacker Joao Felix.