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Thepeoplesperson 5mos ago
"Latest casualties": Ineos have decided to let go two experienced players highly valued by Ten Hag - report
Source:Thepeoplesperson

1 Manchester United are currently eighth in the Premier League and are facing the very real possibility of missing out on European football altogether for next season.

New co-owners INEOS are unhappy with the transfer dealings undertaken by the club under the incompetent Glazers and are plotting a large-scale summer clearout.

The heads of many high-profile stars are expected to roll with Raphael Varane already announcing his departure while Casemiro could follow suit.

Despite a stellar individual campaign, even Bruno Fernandes' name seems to be on the chopping block with many senior stars fearing that the new regime is pushing them out.

Experienced stars getting moved on Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already revealed that the club wants to sign young talents as they look to reduce the overall age of the first-team squad.

Football Insider have now claimed that Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans, both of whose contracts end in June, are not expected to remain at the club moving forward.

The Northern Ireland international was signed after he impressed manager Erik ten Hag during training but the thought process was he would be used to help the youngsters and probably play a few games here and there if the need arose.

However, due to the enormous injury crisis at the club, the former academy graduate has ended up playing more than both Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof and almost at par with both Harry Maguire and Varane.

Contracts running out Despite the manager's public praises regarding his impact and his ability to play through the pain barrier, INEOS are in no mood to offer him a new deal.

The same goes for Heaton, who had come back to the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but has hardly got a look in, playing only three games in as many seasons.

Ten Hag blocked an approach for Luton Town for the third-choice goalie last summer and while the manager would like to keep hold of the England international, whose leadership qualities are valued highly, the new regime does not seem to be on the same page.

"Man United have told Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton and Anthony Martial to find new clubs as they will not receive contract extensions, sources tell Football Insider.

"With their current agreement set to run out next month, they will follow Raphael Varane, 31, out of the door at Old Trafford.

Two stalwarts to leave "Evans, 36, Heaton, 38, and Martial, 28, will be the latest casualties of a major clearout at Old Trafford. Evans has made 28 appearances in defence after returning to United last summer, while Heaton featured just three times since arriving in 2021 as the third-choice goalkeeper."

INEOS are trying to trim a bloated wage bill and by allowing so many experienced stars to leave, United will free up quite a big chunk for new arrivals. Evans was earning PS65,000 per week while Heaton is on PS45,000 per week (as per capology).

Despite their advancing years, both stalwarts would like to keep playing and have no intention of hanging up their boots and gloves just yet. There were murmurs of a future coaching role in the pipeline but nothing has materialised yet.

These departures mean the club will be forced to bring in a new backup shot-stopper as well as more than one centre-back in the summer.

Ayantan Chowdhury Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25