Gary Neville: Manchester United Must Offload 8–10 Players to Rebuild
Despite Manchester United still having a chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League, club legend Gary Neville believes major changes are essential if they want to challenge for a top-four finish. Speaking about the team’s poor domestic form—currently 16th in the Premier League—Neville insists that United need to sell between eight and ten players to move forward.
The mid-season replacement of Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim hasn’t brought the desired turnaround. Ironically, one of the bottom-performing teams—United or 17th-placed Tottenham—will qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League final.
Neville argued that success next season isn’t just about new signings, but about clearing out underperforming players. He criticized the club’s transfer strategy, describing it as “abhorrent,” and suggested names like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Casemiro could be sold—though their high wages might be a barrier. Neville noted that some players will leave when their contracts expire, but others might require expensive payoffs, such as covering a portion of Rashford’s £180,000 weekly wage.
He also questioned the club’s ability to attract elite talent amid financial constraints and their declining status. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures and Profit and Sustainability Rules further complicate matters.
Neville was harsh in his assessment of the club’s development track record, stating that most players have worsened since arriving. “Other than Bruno Fernandes, very few have improved—it’s been a graveyard for signings,” he said.
While lifting the Europa League trophy could provide a glimmer of hope, United’s focus will need to shift toward a serious rebuild this summer, especially with Tottenham also struggling at the bottom of the form table.
