Manchester United are yet to decide who will be coaching their team next season but whoever it is, decisions will need to be taken soon on how the club will evolve the squad this summer.
Michael Carrick’s revival of the team as interim coach has put them on course for the Champions League, which should aid any incomings, while there are still plenty of players deemed unwanted by Ruben Amorim whose futures still need to be resolved.
There is definitely going to be one big gap to fill, with the departure of midfielder Casemiro already confirmed, and many other areas need strengthening.
The Athletic looks at the contract status of each of Manchester United’s players and explores who is likely to stay and who may go.
*Denotes club option of triggering a one-year extension clause, which most United players have.
Goalkeepers
Senne Lammens (2030)
The £18.1million ($24m) spent last summer on the Belgium goalkeeper certainly looks like a shrewd investment. His impressive form means United will be sticking with the 23-year-old as their No 1 for a while yet.
Altay Bayindir (2027)*
The Turkish shot stopper began the season starting for United, but has not featured since the 3-1 defeat by Brentford in September. Lammens started the FA Cup defeat by Brighton in January, which suggested Bayindir was not going to get opportunities away from the Premier League, either. Given he is 27, he may want to look at a move away for his own career.
Andre Onana (2028)*
Onana is currently out on loan at Trabzonspor until the end of the season and Lammens’ form would mean it would be surprising if whoever has the United head coach job in the summer will look to reintegrate the 29-year-old Cameroon goalkeeper. However, the player himself has not given up on his United career.
Tom Heaton (2026)
The 39-year-old has not made a first-team appearance since the Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in 2023, but is a valued member of the squad because of his experience and eagerness to work with other goalkeepers. Ahead of the 2025-26 season Heaton was named among six players who formed the club’s leadership group, along with Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, and Noussair Mazraoui. Talks are ongoing over another one-year extension to his deal.
For more on what it takes to be a goalkeeper at United, you can watch the Talk of the Devils team interview former United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.
Defenders
Diogo Dalot (2028)*
Another member of United’s leadership group, Dalot has missed just two Premier League games this season. The 28-year-old Portugal defender may find more competition for his right-back role should the next head coach stick to a back four, but he is not expected to be going anywhere.
Noussair Mazraoui (2028)*
The Moroccan came in the summer of 2024 and has impressed through a series of solid performances at full-back, wing-back, and a wide defender in a back three. This season saw Mazraoui start slowly, due to a series of small injury issues. Morocco’s journey to the 2025 AFCON final saw Amorim go without the 28-year-old for the final weeks of his tenure. Mazraoui’s versatility means he is likely to stick around this summer.
Harry Maguire (2026)
United have already taken up the one-year extension on the centre-back’s contract, meaning they have had to negotiate a new deal. The Athletic reported that this is close to being agreed. His recent return from injury and impressive performances would make it seem like a wise choice, even if he is 33.
Leny Yoro (2029)*
The 20-year-old French defender has had some struggles recently but was signed in 2024 with the plan that he would be a United starting centre-back in the long term. That is still very much the belief within the club.
Matthijs de Ligt (2029)*
Former manager Erik ten Hag pushed hard to sign the Dutch centre-back in summer 2024, with the club greenlighting the deal, believing it good value for money given De Ligt’s age, experience and price tag. Bayern Munich parted ways with De Ligt in a package potentially rising to £42.8million.
The Netherlands international played in the middle of a back three at the start of 2025-26 and will likely play as a right-sided centre-back in a back four once he returns from a lengthy injury absence. He is only 26 and considered to have his best years ahead. Likely to be part of plans going forward, even if frustration has been his absence since late last year.
Carrick said he does not know when De Ligt will return (Photo: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Lisandro Martinez (2027)*
The Argentine has come back from serious injuries twice now and looked good in recent weeks after getting up to pace following an anterior cruciate ligament tear before another problem — this time his calf — came up. Injuries continue to limit his involvement. The option of extending the contract by a further year means no pressure to make a decision this summer but it is something to be considered for planning, with the centre-back set to turn 29 next January.
Ayden Heaven (2029)*
Signed 12 months ago from Arsenal, the talented teenage defender is another the club have high hopes for in the future and has already plenty of experience behind him in the first team. Chances may be limited for now, with familiar figures fully fit, but the club is happy with his progress.
Patrick Dorgu (2030)*
Another signed 12 months ago, brought in for Ruben Amorim’s system as a left wing-back, Dorgu has shown potential in a more advanced role as a left winger within Michael Carrick’s 4-2-3-1. He is a versatile player who will be seen as valuable to the squad and, at just 21, has untapped potential.
Luke Shaw (2027)
Given previous injury history, it looked like this current contract – signed in 2023 – might be Shaw’s last at the club, but the 30-year-old left back has played in every Premier League game so far this season. It looks like United will allow him to enter the final year of the deal and assess with the new head coach about his longer-term future.
Tyrell Malacia (2026)*
The Dutch left-back is back among the first-team squad and, despite interest in the January window, stayed at the club. However, the 26-year-old is expected to leave in the summer upon the expiration of his contract.
Midfielders
Casemiro (2026)*
The 33-year-old Brazil midfielder has already confirmed he is leaving this summer. There was an option to extend his deal by a further 12 months but given his significant wages – believed to be around £350,000 a week when United are in the Champions League – it has been decided he will move on. Summer recruitment will focus around replacing him and strengthening midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo (2027)*
If Amorim stayed in charge, it would be likely that Mainoo would have asked to go on loan in January. Now, revitalised under Carrick, he is a key player again. Mainoo signed a four-year deal in February 2023 but it was the following season when he emerged as a first-team star, scored in the FA Cup final and played for England in each of their knockout games during Euro 2024.
Amorim may have been reluctant to use the 20-year-old in matches, but called the midfielder “the future of Manchester United” in December 2025. Talks around a new contract have taken place and have been positive, as reported by The Athletic. A new deal seems imminent.
Bruno Fernandes (2027)*
The United captain was presented with an offer of €40m per year net, plus €10m in bonuses, to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal last summer. If Fernandes had shown interest in leaving, United would have considered a bid. There was also interest from Europe.
It is expected there will be interest again this summer which could leave the Portugal attacking midfielder with another conundrum: can he achieve his ambitions at Old Trafford or should he, at 31, either take an eye-watering offer or a move to a European side ready to challenge for the major honours next season? United need him to stay, given his continued form, and qualifying for the Champions League will help.
Manuel Ugarte (2029)*
United signed the Uruguayan from Paris St-Germain in the summer of 2024 for an initial £42.5million, potentially rising to just over £50million. Initially envisioned to be an understudy, and eventual successor, to Casemiro in defensive midfield, the 24-year-old has struggled to replicate the Brazilian’s defensive acumen, and lacks his quality when asked to progress play.
Ugarte has played just 753 minutes in the Premier League this season, predominantly as a substitute. If the right offer comes this summer with a midfield rebuild potentially on the agenda, United may try to recover some of the costs.
Mason Mount (2028)*
Mount looked like he was really starting to shine under Amorim but it has been another season punctuated by injuries so far. It was a significant investment to sign him from Chelsea in 2024 for £55million, and he was described as a “dynamic” player by Ten Hag, but Mount has lacked the sort of consistency needed to cement himself in any best XI for the club.
With two years left on his contract, albeit with the option of a further 12 months, it may be a decision this summer on whether they think they can recoup any costs on the 27-year-old or continue to hope he can fulfil his potential. The rest of the season could be key.
Toby Collyer (2027*)
Given his contract has just one year remaining on it this summer, United may need to make a decision on the 22-year-old midfielder. It has not been the season he would have wanted out on loan with spells at West Bromwich Albion and Hull City littered with injury and fitness issues that have made getting regular first-team football difficult.
United are expected to spend on their midfield this summer so it may depend on what targets they acquire whether or not Collyer will be needed in the squad for next season.
Forwards
Bryan Mbeumo (2030)*
Mbeumo has had a very good debut season for United and certainly looks like a fine piece of business, even if United agreed a fee with Brentford last summer which could exceed £70million. At 26, there are many years ahead for Mbeumo at the club. Has scored 10 goals in all competitions.
Matheus Cunha (2030)*
The Brazilian is another big signing from last summer who is impressing. Cunha, 27, has scored seven goals so far and looks a fine acquisition.
Benjamin Sesko (2030)
It has been a stop-start first season for the Slovenia striker but he has now scored eight goals in his last 11 appearances. There is huge confidence within the club the 22-year-old will go on to be a top No 9 and they expect him to continue to improve as the season goes on.
Sesko has performed strongly under Carrick (Photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Amad Diallo (2030)
The 23-year-old signed a new contract last January after finding his way back into the team under Amorim. Amad has a bright future at United and, despite being a signing from the previous sporting department, the fact he got a new deal 12 months ago shows the faith the current setup have in him.
Joshua Zirkzee (2029)*
The Dutch forward, 24, looked like he might leave in January, with Roma interested in a loan deal, but United did not entertain offers. His minutes have been limited with Sesko’s arrival but also because of Mbeumo and Cunha’s ability to play through the middle in attack. Zirkzee is a good squad player, but his own ambitions may see him push for a move in the summer.
Marcus Rashford (2028)
Barcelona have a £26million buy option at the end of his loan spell. With 10 goals and 13 assists so far for the La Liga outfit, it has been an impressive spell for Rashford, and the temporary owners want to keep him, so it looks like the United academy graduate’s time at the club could end this summer.
United are not willing to renegotiate the current terms of the deal so, as it stands, Barcelona will have to pay the full buy option to get the player.
Rashford has impressed with Barcelona (Getty Images)
Jadon Sancho (2026)*
The winger is on loan at Aston Villa with his contract ending this summer. United do hold an option of a further 12 months which could give them time to generate a transfer fee for the England international but, with the player earning £250,000 a week, it is unlikely they will trigger that because of the risk of then being unable to offload him.
Rasmus Hojlund (2028)
The 23-year-old striker is on loan at Napoli, where he has scored 14 goals so far this season. The Serie A side have an obligation to buy the Denmark international for £38million should they qualify for next season’s Champions League. They currently sit third in the league table. United are not planning for his return.