If we go through the squad, who would you guys want to keep? I feel like at this point that's not a big number of names but we can't exactly sell 15 players either can we?
GK: Whether you like him or not I'd say Onana stays at least 1 more year as our first choice because we spent 60m and we're strapped for cash. Not much more to say on that position I think.
Def: You'd keep Martinez because he's our best CB but the injuries these season are seriously worrying. After him you would keep Maguire because despite all his flaws (and salary) Varane looks set for an exit, Lindelöf is one we should already have off loaded and Evans have done a solid job for a 50 year old but staying long term for another year feels like a stretch. So while we might think Maguire should go as well, it's impossible to imagine us dropping 4 CBs in one window and replacing them. I like Shaw when he plays but he's starting to feel more and more like our Reece James. The player most fans like to watch but just isn't available nearly enough. His cover in Malacia has missed the whole season and who knows where he will be when he returns? Dalot and AWB feels like 2 RBs you could merge to maybe get 1 great RB, but they both have different individual flaws. You could sell both or keep both and I feel like fans probably wouldn't have strong opinions either way.
Mid: Mainoo and Bruno are the two obvious ones to keep. Mainoo could be the talisman we build a midfield around for 15 years and Bruno just never misses a game and has that KDB/Odegaard eye for a pass. Beyond those two I think we're looking at a major overhaul though. Casemiro has not looked good or interested this whole season and feels like a man who is already in Saudi mentally. Eriksen is kinda in the late years Mata stage where you like him as a person but the legs just aren't there anymore, and you would probably expect him to go. Then you have Mount who has missed almost the entire season. He's probably staying because we just bought him but would anyone be upset if he left? Feels like a big mistake in hindsight. Amrabat has been a disaster of a loan and unfortunately never looked close to being a starter for us, but since its a loan we already know he's going back. Mctominay is one of the most controversial players for us and he rarely seems to work in midfield, however I would expect us to keep him based on the fact that we have 3 other CMs likely to leave.
Att: Garnacho and Hojlund would be the two obvious to keep. Garnacho has a ton of talent and potential, Hojlund just got here and is really our only pure striker. Beyond those two its hard to make a case for anyone. Antony is one of our most disliked signings and most fans would welcome him going. Rashford has used up his good will by now and clips like the one against Luton where Barkley just jogs past Rashford who doesn't make an effort to win the ball back just feel like the final nail in the coffin. We can't have a star player who doesn't even do the minimum. You would expect us to cash in on Pellistri and Sancho being loaned out, neither of them have shown much here sadly. Even with a different manager I would not want to see Sancho play for us given how he acted. Then you get Amad who has looked decent at times but it's one of those "will he ever look good enough to start for us?" situations. Martial has been available so little to us that I almost forgot about him completely. He's been here since LVG and if anyone needed to have gone by now its him. No matter if you like him or dislike him as a player he's just not available enough because of injuries.
But I know as well as you guys that we can't just sell 12 players in a window and go full Chelsea mode on the transfer market. But it is scary how much work needs to be done considering how much money we have spent in the last few years. We need the new staff to hit the ground running finding us really good signings for low fees that will transform this team. We need to go full moneyball to have a chance.
