Manchester United’s 2024/25 Squad Ranked

Manchester United ended the 2023/24 season shrouded in uncertainty. Would Erik ten Hag continue at the club? Who would replace him if he left? And which players would be shown the door for new summer signings as they looked to bounce back from a poor eighth-placed finish in the Premier League?

But, following the conclusion of the term, which saw the Red Devils salvage some pride with an FA Cup triumph against noisy neighbours Manchester City, Ten Hag was offered a new deal and multiple players arrived at the Theatre of Dreams. Big money was spent on luring the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro to the club, but United’s fortunes haven’t changed for the better.

A poor start to the 2024/25 campaign has seen United succumb to a late defeat against Brighton, while top six rivals Liverpool and Tottenham have both dismantled the Red Devils in 3–0 victories. Their record on the European stage has been lacklustre, too, with consecutive draws against FC Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce.

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A new dawn is, however, upon the 13-time Premier League champions with Ruben Amorim’s arrival bringing a shower of positivity to a club in need of changes. The 39-year-old took charge of his first game against Ipswich Town on 24 November and went unbeaten in his first three games, before a 2-1 victory in the derby showed signs of an uptick in form.

The Red Devils have lost four of their previous five league games, though, against the likes of Wolves and Bournemouth, which have highlighted a serious need for change in the team, and with Amorim’s first transfer window on the horizon, it’s time to look at every player currently in the United squad and rank them on their status in the team. The players have been placed into one of six following categories – ‘Must Keep’; ‘Useful to Have in the Squad’; ‘Talented Youngster’; ‘The Jury is Still Out’; ‘Listen to Offers’ and, finally, ‘Get Rid’.

Ranking factors

Players have been ranked based on the following factors:

• General quality and what they bring to the current outfit
• Longevity and future potential
• Are they good value for money based on current performances?

Must Keep

Fernandes and Yoro feature

Bruno Fernandes is criticised for his behaviour and petulance on the pitch at times – including after he earned his third red card of the season against Wolves. The Portuguese international was also slammed for his performances early this season, but when he’s in form, he’s hard to stop. Following Ten Hag’s departure, he’s shown signs of returning to his prime and should he rediscover his form, he will be vital to any success the Red Devils may have in the future.

While things may not be going too well for United both on and off the pitch, the good news for them is that they’ve got plenty of talented young players in their squad who are already making an impact. Leny Yoro has quickly made himself one of the club’s best defenders after a string of consistent performances as of late and has established himself in the heart of defence to silence any skeptics. The same can be said for Kobbie Mainoo, who has shown composure beyond his years in the middle of the park.

Then there’s Amad Diallo. The Ivorian has leapfrogged other more established names in the squad, and he’ll be looking to regularly feature under the new regime in 2024/25. Based on current performances, he is certainly a must keep for the squad, as the youngster has already scored twice and contributed to six assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season so far, despite many of his cameos coming from the bench.

Albeit in the infancy of his Old Trafford career, Noussair Mazraoui has also been one of the club’s most consistent performers this season and with Amorim’s tendency to play with wing backs – a role Mazraoui is capable of playing, there is every chance that his influence could continue to rise. The Moroccan has wasted little time in showing supporters what he is capable of.

Useful to Have in the Squad

Dalot and Martinez both kept

Fundamentally, the players in this section are not guaranteed a spot in the starting line-up at Old Trafford moving forward, but they are all good to have in and around the squad – not just on the pitch but in the dressing room, too.

Although Diogo Dalot would have been a ‘must keep’ before the season started, he has fallen out of the top tier after several poor performances. His issues fitting into the system that Amorim wants to play at Old Trafford may harm his future at the club, but with Luke Shaw’s injury woes, he’s still useful to have around in his unorthodox left-back berth.

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At the start of the season, Lisandro Martinez would have been nailed on for a spot in the must keep section, but he’s struggled throughout the campaign and turned out a few woeful performances. As a result, fans have started to grow tired of the centre-back and his place in the side isn’t quite as secure as it once was. Still, he’s considered one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and is a useful figure in the squad.

Manuel Ugarte had a tough start to life in England, but has since turned things around, and he’s actually become one of United’s best performers following the arrival of Amorim. It’s too soon to say he’s a hit, but he’s definitely looking more likely to succeed than fail at Old Trafford.

Despite battling multiple injuries in his debut season, Rasmus Hojlund had a respectable 2023/24 campaign, netting 16 goals across 43 appearances in all competitions. However, consistency remains an issue. At times, he appears to be the ideal forward for the club to build around, but as Michael Owen recently highlighted, the Danish international can often seem ineffective without quality service.

Talented Youngster

Toby Collyer, Dan Gore and Harry Amass waiting in the wings

This tier really explains itself. While each of the players mentioned could go on to become a valuable part of the senior squad, right now they are still learning their trade, picking up experience from more established pros. Although three of the above have made their debuts.

Toby Collyer was the most recent man to earn his senior stripes. Brought on for Casemiro at half-time during the defeat to Liverpool, the young midfielder was truly thrown straight into the fire. While he didn’t stand out against the Reds per se, there was cause for optimism that he could develop into a decent player moving forward.

Dan Gore, meanwhile, was given his Premier League debut in United’s 3-2 victory against Aston Villa, although he only played a minute of the tie. However, he did get a more substantial chunk of minutes in the Carabao Cup. While not yet ready to regularly grace Old Trafford, there is hope around Carrington he could be the next Mainoo or Garnacho.

Striker Ethan Wheatley, brought on against Sheffield United in April 2024, has featured in more Premier League games than either Gore or Collyer, but has only played 13 minutes of senior football in the English top flight. Harry Amass is still waiting for his first-team debut, but could be handed minutes in cup competitions this term.

The Jury is Still Out

New signings Zirkzee and De Ligt have work to do

It’s rather difficult to rate the next two players just yet, simply because of how recently their moves went through and how little they’ve shown so far. Although some new signings have become valuable members of United’s setup already, others have failed to convince entirely. The duo of players to feature most often since their summer moves are De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee.

Although the former has been solid, there is certainly room for improvement, and he could be helped by Amorim’s choice to play a three-at-the-back system. The defender is still finding his feet in the heart of defence and, despite United’s poor record, has looked like an okay transfer. Questions have been raised about Zirkzee’s finishing, though, with some fans even suggesting that Zirkzee’s link-up play could see his position changed slightly.

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Andre Onana has faced significant criticism, especially during his first season at the club, with doubts lingering over his suitability as Manchester United’s long-term goalkeeper. The situation remains uncertain, as Onana’s strong start to the season has been overshadowed by a return to inconsistency. His recent blunder, conceding directly from a corner against Wolves, exemplifies the concerns that he can be a liability in goal despite his talent and experience as a former Champions League finalist with Inter.

Alejandro Garnacho finds himself in a similar situation. Under Ten Hag, the young Argentine winger often looked unstoppable, but since Amorim’s arrival, his opportunities in the first team have been limited. While his talent is undeniable, he has struggled to showcase it consistently. Frustration is growing among United fans as Garnacho’s end product continues to fall short of expectations, while there are also question marks over his attitude.

Listen To Offers

Mount, Shaw, and Casemiro feature

While there is merit in keeping all six of these players, there is also an array of reasons why offers should be considered. Luke Shaw may be a surprise inclusion on this list, but his injury record is a cause for concern. The Englishman’s talent is not in question – but availability is the best ability and Shaw cannot guarantee that he will be able to remain fit. If Manchester United can find a better option on the left, the 29-year-old may find his place in the team at risk. He has only managed three games this season.

Tyrell Malacia’s fitness concerns, similarly to Shaw, could see the club consider offers as they look for someone who can deputise at left-back more regularly. And although he only joined the club in the summer of 2023, Mason Mount has hardly done enough to convince the Old Trafford faithful he should regularly be playing in front of other midfield options.

Another player who has missed a substantial number of games through injury, he also hasn’t been able to replicate the performances he put in while at Chelsea, which saw him named the club’s Player of the Season twice. Should he continue to flounder, or if injuries continue to bug him, then it might be time to part ways.

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Harry Maguire was often slandered by supporters for making multiple errors, but the reality is that in 2023/24, he was reliable when called upon and often the club’s best option in the heart of defence. That said, De Ligt’s arrival and his game time – or indeed, lack thereof – since the current campaign kicked off will be a worry for the former Leicester City stalwart, who – at 31 years old – could still play regular football at a lesser outfit. After a strong start to life in England, it might be time for United to consider any offers that may come their way for Casemiro, too.

The Brazilian has been one of the best defensive-minded midfielders in the world over the last decade, but his huge drop-off in form has been nothing short of drastic. Performances have improved slightly after a hugely disappointing performance against Liverpool, but considering how lofty his wages are, the club would be wise to think about selling. Similarly, Christian Eriksen’s best days are clearly behind him.

The Dane’s life at Manchester United has been hodgepodge to say the least. In and out of the season upon his arrival, the ex-Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur man is taking home £150,000-a-week and there are plenty of better ways for the Red Devils to spend that sort of money.

Get Rid

Man Utd should part ways with Antony and Rashford

Antony was signed for big money but has failed to show why United paid £81.3 million for him. Per Transfermarkt, he’s recorded just 17 goal contributions (12 goals, five assists) in 87 appearances and the intangible aspect of his game is equally poor. Mostly utilised as a back-up for other wingers previously mentioned nowadays, it’s now time for the club to cut their losses, should any parties become interested.

Victor Lindelof has been a terrific servant to the club and is a useful option off the bench, but if United are looking to the future, they need to consider swapping deadwood for younger players with potential. Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton, while both valuable presences off the pitch, are also not what they once were, and will likely only be used in cases of emergency in 2024/25. They might be retained until the end of the season, simply to provide stability off the pitch, but neither should be in the squad come 2025/26.

After Altay Bayindir’s disastrous performance against Tottenham, where he conceded four goals, including an Olimpico, the spotlight has shifted even further onto United’s struggling goalkeeping situation, with the Turk not expected to play another game for the club. Meanwhile, if INEOS and their partners truly believe that no player is bigger than the club, then parting ways with Marcus Rashford should be an easy decision. The English forward has been causing unrest behind the scenes, and the club can’t afford players who are not fully committed to the project.

With his teammates reportedly unhappy with how Rashford has handled off-field issues, it seems increasingly likely that the boyhood favorite will leave Old Trafford, either in January or next summer. There’s little point in resisting this outcome.