Chris Sutton has called on Manchester United to brutally cull Ruben Amorim’s squad by offloading 10 first-team players across the two transfer windows in 2025. Amorim has had a high-definition look at the mediocre set of players he’s inherited at Old Trafford and won’t want to waste any time in overseeing a reshaping.
The Portuguese boss has publicly admitted that January will be a difficult period to complete business due to United’s financial situation.
Funds are tight in M16 after splurging over £600million in less than three years under Erik ten Hag, contributing to club-wide losses of around £300m in the same period.
United are in another position where they will need to sell players before they can buy, and Sutton believes a staggering 10 should be on the chopping block to raise cash.
“I don’t think Manchester United have any other choice [to back Amorim’s philosophy] after putting Amorim in a headlock to get him over here,” Sutton wrote for Mail Sport.
“They trusted him and were happy for him to play in this particular way and they’ve got no choice but to stick with it.
“If you could get rid of most of this squad and replace them, you would do, but that isn’t realistic; that won’t be the case.”
Sutton’s exodus would start in the goalkeeper department with backup stopper Altay Bayindir, urging United to upgrade the position if possible.
Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Christian Eriksen are out of contract this summer, and Sutton believes all three should be released.
He also wants United to offload Tyrell Malacia, who has struggled to re-calibrate since returning from his 18-month injury layoff.
More surprisingly, Sutton has called on the Red Devils to sell Matthijs de Ligt, who joined the club from Bayern Munich for £43million in the summer.
De Ligt hasn’t been among United’s worst performers this season, but his lack of speed and mobility has been a topic of criticism.
Sutton has also told Casemiro to leave Old Trafford, urging Amorim to add more energy to his midfield if he wants his 3-4-3 system to work.
In attack, the former Celtic man wants Marcus Rashford to pursue his public desire for a new challenge.
He also wants £86m flop Antony to leave after failing to improve since joining in 2022.
Finally, Sutton believes Joshua Zirkzee should go elsewhere as he fails his trial under Amorim. He may ask to leave himself after being booed after the pitch by his own fans against Newcastle United.
