Casemiro, Varane and Other Man Utd Players Who Could Be Axed After Ratcliffe Completes Takeover

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe is one step closer to owning a 25% stake in Manchester United
• The British billionaire will control football operations after Premier League ratification
• Rumours are already circulating around players who could face the axe in his reign

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is Premier League/FA ratification away from owning a 25% stake in Manchester United after the club announced the agreement yesterday.

As part of the deal, he will take charge of football operations, and it is already looking doom for some players in the squad as the new era will inevitably bring about change.

Sports Brief looks at five players who could fall victim, with Erik ten Hag keeping his job until the end of the season.

Potential Manchester United exits

1. Casemiro

The most obvious one at the risk of axe. Per The Guardian, the INEOS chairman criticised spending £60 million on the Brazilian when he visited Old Trafford early this year. His departure could come as early as the January transfer window.

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2. Raphael Varane

Another former Real Madrid player whom many claim was at United for payday. He has reportedly fallen out with ten Hag, and according to Diario AS, he wants a return to his former club, who are also said to welcome the idea of having him back.

3. Antony

Per The Athletic, the club’s scout initially valued the Brazilian winger at £25mil, but pressure from the Dutch boss to reunite with his former player pushed the club to pay £85mil. Every passing game looked more glaring as an investment gone wrong and an exit could be on the cards.

4. Jadon Sancho

As long as ten Hag is the manager, the English winger will not return to the first team. The manager insists on receiving an apology before he can be reintegrated. His departure could come the earliest of the lot, with former club Borussia Dortmund a likely destination.

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5. Donny van de Berk

The Dutch midfielder has been a shadow of his former since his move to Old Trafford in 2020. A loan move with an option to make it permanent has already been agreed with Eintracht Frankfurt. Regardless of how it turns out, his time at the club is over.

The club also have players who would be free agents in the summer – Anthony Martial, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, all of whom are unlikely to get a renewal and will leave the club.

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Ten Hag to keep his job

Sports Brief reported on ten Hag staying at Man Utd at least until the end of the current season despite Ratcliffe’s takeover, meaning he directs football operations.

The manager has questions about him, but unless the results go extremely bad, which is close to it, he will not be relieved of his duties until May 2024.