Manchester United have been urged to sell a staggering 26 players to have any chance of returning to the glory days. Ruben Amorim’s squad is set to be put through a major overhaul over the next few transfer windows.
Former defender Paul Parker wants to see the majority of the first-team squad axed by Amorim and INEOS. United have drastically underperformed this season and several stars are on the chopping block.
Parker says a remarkable 80 per cent of the squad must be shown the door. United list 32 players on their first-team webpage, including loanees.
“I don’t think anything is going to work at Manchester United until 80 per cent of the current players are gone,” Parker told Instant Casino.
“You can’t keep patting a dog on the head if it’s not listening to you – at one point you’ve got to just scream if it’s not been disciplined enough. That’s what’s happening in this moment in time at the club.”
Parker argued that Harry Maguire’s contract extension is proof that United are still getting their squad management wrong. The centre-back, who was ostracised under Erik ten Hag, has had the option to extend his stay at Old Trafford by another 12 months triggered.
Maguire earns a reported £190,000 per week, with Parker pointing out that the money could have gone towards saving staff members’ jobs. INEOS have overseen a brutal cull of employees at United and made 250 staff redundant last year.
There are reports that further redundancies will be made as part of wider cuts over the coming months.
“I look at Harry Maguire getting the option on his contract taken up by the club – all you’re doing is just giving another 12 months to what’s been going on for the last eight years,” the 60-year-old continued.
“It just didn’t make any sense to me. If Maguire had left, then maybe Manchester United wouldn’t have had to have sacked those poor members of staff who have been at the club for years and years!”
Despite having few players who fit into his 3-4-2-1 formation, Amorim welcomed only one signing to United during the January transfer window. Left-wing-back Patrick Dorgu arrived from Italian side Lecce in an initial £24m deal.
United’s outgoings were the major headline of the window, with the high-earning Marcus Rashford and Antony both departing on loan to Aston Villa and Real Betis, respectively.