Club legend Gary Neville believes that Manchester United must offload around eight to ten players if they hope to compete for a top-four spot next season.

♦Despite a difficult domestic campaign, Manchester United still have a shot at Champions League qualification this season. However, Gary Neville has argued that significant changes are needed for the team to progress next year—namely, by selling eight to ten players.

 

Currently sitting 16th in the Premier League, United’s 2024–25 season has been one to forget. Replacing Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim mid-season has done little to turn things around, with Spurs just below them in 17th, offering a rare silver lining.

 

Interestingly, one of these two struggling sides will secure a Champions League spot by winning the upcoming Europa League final. Yet, Neville believes United’s success next season hinges not just on who they bring in during the summer, but more importantly, on who they let go.

 

He criticized the club’s recruitment strategy, calling it “abhorrent,” and highlighted that players like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Casemiro could be on the way out—though their high wages might complicate any potential transfers. According to Neville, “three or four players will leave when their contracts end,” but the club may have to pay off another five or six just to move them on. For example, he noted United could be left covering half of Rashford’s weekly £180,000 salary.

 

Questions remain about whether United can attract high-quality signings, given their poor form and declining appeal to top players. Financial restrictions under PSR and cost-cutting plans by Sir Jim Ratcliffe further reduce the chances of offering lucrative deals.

 

Neville also lamented the club’s failure to develop talent, saying most players have regressed after joining. “It’s been a graveyard for signings over the past decade—apart from Bruno Fernandes, no one has really improved,” he remarked.

 

Still, winning the Europa League could offer a small redemption. United’s focus is clearly on that match, especially since their opponents, Tottenham, are in even worse shape—sitting at the bottom of the form table, just below United on goal difference.