Manchester United will be looking to put their humiliating Europa League exit behind them today when they face off against Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final with several players potentially on their last chance to impress Erik ten Hag before the summer transfer window. Reports have indicated the club will undergo a mass overhaul at the end of the season following their defeat to Sevilla on Thursday night.
Over a dozen players are said to be on the chopping block, with some set to be in the squad to face Brighton today. Express Sport takes a look at five players who will have it all to prove in the FA Cup clash.
Anthony Martial
Reports have suggested the Frenchman will be one of the players United will look to offload this summer. He proved ineffective in the game against Sevilla on Thursday before hobbling off with an injury.
With Marcus Rashford returning to the squad, Martial’s place in the starting line-up may be at risk but the 27-year-old may still be called upon if he passes a late fitness test. And pressure will be on Martial to perform if Ten Hag throws him in to face Brighton.
Jadon Sancho
It’s been a torrid two years at Old Trafford for Jadon Sancho so far and reports this week have indicated he too is under risk of being moved on by United. The 23-year-old has failed to impress under Ten Hag and now faces a fight on his hand to win back his place in the starting line-up.
A strong display against Brighton to help United seal their spot in the FA Cup final could go a long way to turning his fortune around.
Victor Lindelof
Harry Maguire’s suspension along with injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez mean Victor Lindelof will be the only fit natural centre-half for Ten Hag today. Varane and Martinez are seen as United’s first-choice centre-back pairing, but plans are in place for United to bolster their back line in the summer.
Lindelof now has a chance to stake his claim in the final few weeks of the season and prove he still has plenty to offer at Old Trafford.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The 25-year-old has won over Ten Hag in the second part of the season but there’s still question marks on his future at the club beyond this summer. While defensively Wan-Bissaka is still highly-regarded, Ten Hag wants full-backs who are capable of bringing something in the final third.
He will have his chance to impress today against Brighton in a bid to stay at the club beyond this season.
David de Gea
The calamitous errors against Sevilla have led to serious question marks from United fans over De Gea’s spot in the team. The Spaniard remains Ten Hag’s No 1 choice and will be desperately hoping to put Thursday’s performance firmly behind him.
United are still being linked with a new goalkeeper this summer, but De Gea still has a chance to prove himself as the club’s first-choice moving forward.
