Manchester United are expected to release at least five players this summer upon the expiration of their respective contracts as Erik ten Hag’s revolution at Old Trafford continues.
The highest-profile name on the list is Phil Jones who hasn’t featured under Ten Hag this season and hasn’t trained all year with the defender last visible at Carrington in May 2022.
With just two starts in the last three years, the 31-year-old sits well at the bottom of United’s defensive pecking order and a nightmare handful of seasons will finally come to an end this summer.
Jones joined United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 as a youngster with heaps of potential but has struggled to meet expectations at Old Trafford with the defender making just 13 appearances for the club since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
Ongoing knee problems have been a significant contributing factor for the player who signed his most recent contract in 2019. After 12 years at United, the 27-capped former England international will have to seek a new opportunity.
Alongside Jones, defender Axel Tuanzebe is also be a free agent this summer. Having previously been seen as a bright youth prospect, the Englishman is now 25. His last appearance for United came in the 2021 Europa League final defeat to Villarreal.
This season, the centre-back has been on loan at Championship side Stoke City but played just five times in four months after an injury-plagued 2022.
Northern Irish midfielder Ethan Galbraith will also see his contract expire this summer having spent the season on loan at League Two outfit Salford City. The 22-year-old made just one senior appearance for United, playing against Astana in the Europa League group stage in 2019.
Academy goalkeepers Ondrej Mastny and Charlie Wellens are also expected to leave after short loans at Portadown and Oldham Athletic respectively. Young striker Mateo Mejia could also follow suit with his future uncertain.
A decision will also have to be made on the future of second-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton who is back in training after a foot injury. However, should Heaton remain at United, it is likely he will still be an understudy to David De Gea who is expected to sign a new contract this summer.
Nathan Bishop, a reserve goalkeeper signed from Southend United in January 2020, is also approaching the final month of his deal. The 23-year-old has never played for United.
