Matheus Cunha has already been announced as Manchester United's first signing of the summer, and Brentford's talisman Bryan Mbeumo appears increasingly likely to be next on the list as it has been widely reported in the past week that the Cameroonian international favours a move to Old Trafford.
Arguably two top 10 players in the Premier League, the acquisitions of both Cunha and Mbeumo are undeniably statements of intent by United as the Red Devils endeavour to strengthen the squad ahead of playing one game a week next season.
Strengthening a squad does not solely entail acquiring talent. Careful consideration of what players to keep in your squad is similarly imperative, especially since internal solutions save money. It is firmly established that United will have to generate most of their transfer funds through player sales.
It is easy to erratically argue that most, if not all, United players should justifiably be on the chopping block after one of United's worst seasons in decades. However, this would be an oversight because this conclusion would only be arrived at when assessing the team as a collective without considering its individual components.
Hardly is it ever the case, especially at historically big clubs, that the team and all the players are completely liable for a horrid season of football. That analysis is lazy and unfairly invalidates individual efforts exerted throughout a season.
With this perspective firmly in mind, it is vital that certain players are exempted from the chopping block when the manager and the rest of the sporting department at United are deliberating over who to sell. These three certain players are Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, and Kobbie Mainoo.
Amad Diallo
It is unfortunate that Amad suffered an injury that sidelined him for months earlier this year, because up until that injury he was consistently reinforcing why he is such a commodity for United. An unconditional performer, Amad consistently delivered the goods regardless of whether he was played as a 10 or a wing-back.
Amad was largely out of favour under previous United boss Erik ten Hag, and his future at the club was growing worryingly uncertain as long as Ten Hag remained at United. Amad's journey through the loan system ending with a wonderful stint at Sunderland in the EFL Championship facilitated the growth of a cult-like support system for Amad amongst United fans.
This support system, fairly noticeably a majority amongst United fans, vehemently clamoured for Amad to get more opportunities at United under Ten Hag and were subsequently vindicated when Amad announced himself under Ruben Amorim with an impressive assist from wing-back to Marcus Rashford against Ipswich Town.
Since then Amad has become an unquestionable starter for United when fit, offering a youthful exuberance for the game, expressed through his willing running with and without the ball, his relentless intent to drive at opposition players, and his final third potency.
Despite missing two critical months of action which sadly disrupted his momentum, Amad finished the season with 21 goal contributions in all competitions. This places him 25th amongst right-wingers in Europe's top 10 leagues.
Amad does not only express his talent with passion, but garners a passionate response from United fans due to how he approaches the game. Couple that connectivity to the fans with his evident ability to accumulate high numbers of goal contributions, as well as his positional versality, and you have a young player that you can potentially rely on for years to come.
Leny Yoro
Calling Yoro's debut season for United tumultuous is arguably an understatement. Multiple injuries, rookie performances at the start of the season, and the ubiquitious reminder that he could very easily have been playing for Real Madrid instead.
Thankfully for United, the 19 year old prospect grew into the season and eventually became an unquestionable starter just like Amad. It is siginifacant to note that the excessive fee United paid for Yoro was an investment in talent above anything. Signing young players like this becomes a fruitful endeavour when that investment, like Yoro, matures at a quicker rate than expected.
6ft2, athletic, a comfotable passer and an impressive ball-carrier, Yoro possesses all the tools and requirements of a contemporary centre-back with aims of potentially becoming elite. At his best this season, it was unsurprising to remember the stylistic comparisons to Virgil Van Dijk. This comparison became even more vivid when Yoro established himself in a similar left-centre-back position towards the business end of the season.
Despite United finishing the season pathetically as a team, individually it was obvious to see why the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Liverpool had sought after Yoro's signature. The quality of suitors Yoro had at his disposal should be enough of an indication of the level of talent United have on their hands.
At 19 years old Yoro has already proven himself to be starter quality, so the logical next step for United is to create an environment suitable for Yoro to flourish. The thought of selling him should be perished.
Kobbie Mainoo
Very few would have honestly predicted the misfortune of Mainoo this season. Mainoo was one of a few players at United in the 2023/24 season who rose above the dissaray and demonstrated his impressive ability for his age, playing a crucial role in salvaging United's season in the FA Cup final where he scored.
It was only a few short months later that Mainoo had skipped the youth line and been welcomed into the England senior team for the EURO 2024 squad, and would then force himself into the starting 11 for the knockout games and the final.
Year 2 for Mainoo was unfortunately disrupted at times due to spells on the sidelines through injury, and when he came back into the squad from injury under Amorim it appeared that Mainoo was struggling to make playing as one of the 8s in the pivot work for him.
Playing in the two-man midfield of Amorim's 3-4-3 is physically demanding, and while Mainoo is someone who can hold his own physically, as of yet he does not have the legs to be able to cover as much ground as the the position demands.
Playing with only one midfield partner usually means that Mainoo is often having to think with a tired mind and perform actions in an open midfield with a tired body. This should not be viewed as an indictment of Mainoo's ability, but instead should be looked at as a point of debate over whether Amorim is creating suitable conditions for his midfielders to thrive.
As a result of Mainoo's unsuitability to the demands of the pivot, he has more often been deployed as one of the 10s. This has beared fruit at times, like in the Europa League where he produced a performance with a goal and an assist against FCSB.
Ultimately though, Mainoo is better suited deeper, and as the season has progressed Mainoo has shown in fairly limited minutes that he can grow into the type of 8 that can be combative like Amorim desires, but can conflate this doggedness with much needed technical security.
It is indisputable that United must shop for midfielders this summer to try to avoid the openness in midfield that has been an issue for years now. Conveniently, a sale of Mainoo could make United's hunt for midfielders a lot easier, especially when considering that any money procured from Mainoo's sale would be recorded as pure profit under Profit and Sustainability Rules.
If, however, United were to effectively give up on an academy graduate who delivered such an inspiring debut campaign purely for financial reasons, what would this communicate to the fans? How would this reflect the ethos of United?
A young player who showcased the ability, maturity, and responsibility of Mainoo in 2023/24 does not suddenly lose their ability to perform to that standard. With any dip in form and/or quality with a player like Mainoo, the onus should also be put on the club to assess how external factors may or may not be affecting the player's ability to perform.
Youth, courage, success means something to United. It is not simply three words, it is the foundation the club lives and breathes on, and selling Mainoo would essentially be stomping a hole through that foundation.