OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has warned Manchester United flops: “You’re playing for your futures.”
The Red Devils put in another horror-show of a performance as they were thumped 3-1 by rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
Now with TEN players’ contracts expiring either this summer or the next, Solskjaer has warned they are now playing for their futures at the club.
A fired-up Solskjaer said: “I think every player is playing for his future at the biggest clubs. You have to perform and you have got to do well.
“We all have different roles in it, at a different age you have got more influence behind the scenes as well to be one of the main characters.
“Both on and off the pitch, everyone here has a lot to play for.”
With five players out of contract this summer and five more in 2021, United‘s stars better recapture their form… and quickly.
This June, club captain Ashley Young and Nemanja Matic, both earning 120,000 a week, see their contracts expire.
Both have played sporadically this season, but certainly aren’t first-team regulars any more, barring any injury crises.
Eric Bailly (80,000) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (15,000) are also out of contract and could be moved on with injuries sorely hampering their progress.
Neither defender has played a single minute of first-team action this season.
Back-up stopper Lee Grant, on 30,000 per week, is also expected to leave in search of one final chance at regular action.
Next summer, Paul Pogba headlines the stars to see their contracts expire – currently raking in around 375,000 a week.
The midfielder has made no secret of his desire to leave the club and with form and injuries a real issue this season, he is expected to quit the club this summer.
United will want to cash-in on their 89million record signing, with Real Madrid being linked with a 150m deal.
Another big-earner, 160,000-a-week Juan Mata is also expected to leave between now and next summer with his playing time down again this term.
Marcos Rojo (80,000) has struggled with injuries this season, while Jesse Lingard (75,000) can’t seem to find his feet.
The England midfielder failed to score or register a Premier League assist in 2019 and had another tough go of things against City on Tuesday night.
Back-up stopper Sergio Romero is another with just 18 months left on his contract and must now quit in order to find the first-team football he deserves.
