Manchester United are already planning for the January transfer window, thanks to the appointment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but it won’t only be about incomings.

Under Erik ten Hag, United has had a faltering start to the 2023/24 season in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Ratcliffe has commissioned Sir Dave Brailsford to conduct an audit of the club, and recruitment is thought to be a major source of concern ahead of his £1.3billion bid for 25% of the club.

Even if a January exit is on the cards, Ratcliffe will direct Ten Hag to speak with Jadon Sancho in an attempt to resolve their current feud. And Sancho will not be the only player weighing his choices in the coming year.

In January, players in the final six months of their United contracts will be allowed to speak with European teams. This could be a way for United to get rid of undesired players who will be out of contract in June. Mirror Football examines those who are expected to fill the post.

Wan-Bissaka Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Wan-Bissaka joined United in 2019 after a £50 million move from Crystal Palace. His five-year deal will expire in June, and the 25-year-old right-back could take advantage of the possibility to meet with overseas teams in January.

Wan-Bissaka arrived at United with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders because of the transfer fee, and he has had a rollercoaster ride at Old Trafford, going from dependable player to lightning rod for fan wrath. He has 168 appearances for the club and is unlikely to be awarded a new contract, considering Diogo Dalot’s position in the squad and Ratcliffe’s desire to renew the squad.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is out of contract in June ( Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Martial’s Manchester United contract is close to expiring ( Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)

Martial has been at United since 2015 and has 89 goals and 54 assists in 313 games, which is quite the tally for a forward who has generally been considered to be underperforming. The Frenchman has been on the fringes of the first team for a few seasons and, following an underwhelming loan spell with Sevilla last year, there is surely now a desire to part ways.

Still aged just 27, there will surely be a market for Martial, who may be tempted to move back to France and try to revive his career.

Hannibal Mejbri

Hannibal emerged from the academy and was proclaimed by some fans to be the answer to the team’s woes in central midfield, but it hasn’t really happened for him yet. He has made five appearances under Ten Hag this season, scoring one eye-catching goal against Brighton, yet it is his temper which has caught the eye mainly.

The 20-year-old has undoubted talent and United have the option of extending his contract by a year. But you wonder that, having played regularly on loan with Birmingham, Hannibal may prefer to move on to find regular first-team football.

Lindelof, Victor

The Swedish center-back has been with the club since 2017, making him one of the club’s longest-serving players. He has made 246 appearances for the club as a 29-year-old, typically as a first-choice back-up to more veteran defenders in a variety of positions.

United have the option to extend his contract for another year, but it is unclear whether they would do so. Much will be determined by his teammates’ fitness, with Lisandro Martinez now out and Raphael Varane bouncing from one injury to the next.

Martial, Anthony

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Jonny Evans

Evans was a surprise returnee to United over the summer after he was released by Leicester. Now 35, he has been forced to feature more often than Ten Hag would have liked this season due to injuries in central defence.

He was signed on a one-year contract in the summer and they will surely wait until the end of the season to make a decision on his future. It seems unlikely that he would negotiate a free transfer in the summer with a foreign side.

Heaton, Tom

With the arrivals of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, the 37-year-old reserve goalkeeper signed a one-year agreement in the summer to give backup and consistency. Heaton has yet to appear this season and has only made three appearances for United since joining in 2021.

Alvaro Fernandez Fernandez went on United’s pre-season tour and may have hoped for a first-team chance when Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia were injured. However, Ten Hag chose to loan him out to Granada, with Sergio Reguillon entering on loan to give backup.

The 20-year-old has yet to debut for United, and after playing regularly for Granada in La Liga, he might very well arrange a permanent summer move in January.

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