Manchester United have a number of unresolved issues to be declared, with regards to player contracts.
For those with money to burn, Manchester United released an expensive new home kit for the 2024/25 season.
It’s also now July, with changes announced in the club’s released and retained list kicking into effect.
This has led to a huge saving on the wage bill, with Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial’s expensive wages no longer on the club’s books.
But there are some issues awaiting clarification, where Manchester United have muddied the waters over the past 24 hours.
Four players ‘wear new kit’ with uncertain futures
Manchester United are yet to confirm the status of four players for 2024/25, who were on the club’s books last season.
Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton, and Shola Shoretire are all now free agents, technically, after their previous contracts expired.
United have been in discussions with all three about new deals, with no announcements yet made.
Sofyan Amrabat’s loan deal at Manchester United expired on June 30. He should be heading back to Fiorentina.
However, Manchester United’s website player profiles page has listed all four players as still part of the squad.
This is despite Martial and Varane being removed, and what’s more, all four of Evans, Heaton, Shoretire and Amrabat are pictured wearing the new 2024/25 home kit.
The images do not amount to confirmation of roles for the quartet for next season, but it increases speculation they could stay on.
Experience and youth
Manchester United have reason to try and roll over deals for Evans and Heaton for one more season.
The pair provide valuable back-up, and if they do not sign, United will need to replace them. With so much other business required, it would be convenient to keep the duo.
Sofyan Amrabat’s situation is more of a debate. The Morocco midfielder had a mixed time at Old Trafford but starred in the FA Cup Final.
United are expected to need to replace, potentially, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield. Needing to replace Amrabat too, will place a strain on the midfield.
Shoretire is the most difficult of all four to negotiate, because unlike the other three, he could turn United down.
While he has made the bench a couple of times, he has not played a single minute under Erik ten Hag in a competitive game.
Now 20, he has lost some of the momentum he had when he became one of the club’s youngest ever players in 2021.
Along with the other three, his presence still on United’s squad website, unlike Martial and Varane, offers an indication that the club have not quite given up hope that he will sign a new deal.