4 months ago
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Ex-England star Lianne Sanderson has told Dan Ashworth to sell four Manchester United players if appointed as sporting director.
Following the approval of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority takeover, Ashworth is on the Red Devils' radar to fill the position, however no formal club-to-club talks have yet taken place.
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Should Newcastle's current sporting director take the role at Old Trafford, he would undoubtedly be tasked with a huge challenge in rebuilding the first team squad.
While incoming transfers will be a huge talking point, Erik ten Hag will need to offload high-earning players in order to fund those deals.
So who would Manchester United fan Sanderson sell under the new regime? She told talkSPORT...
Harry Maguire
Signed from Leicester City in 2019 for £80million, Maguire had been a first-team regular at Old Trafford until Ten Hag's arrival when the England international saw himself slip down the pecking order.
Discussing his future on talkSPORT, Sanderson said: "No, I’m not keeping him.
"Fair play to him, he’s had a decent few games. I wouldn’t say he’s had a good season, let’s not get carried away.
“He was good the other day and had a good assist and it’s hard because I want to give my opinion on Harry Maguire and every time someone gives an opinion it seems like an attack, but it’s not an attack. I critique what I see. I’d sell."
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Antony
Arriving at the club for £86million, Sanderson believes that Antony has had ample opportunity to show his worth as a Manchester United player.
She said: "Do you really need me to say why? I don’t think anyone needs me to say.
“I liked Antony when he first because I thought let him do his showboating if he produces. I’m not from that same place where people say ‘don’t let players do that stuff’, let them be creative but he’s not that guy.
“He’s not that guy and he never will be."
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Jadon Sancho
Having joined the club for £73million in 2022, Sancho was expected to become a key man for Manchester United, however a high-profile fallout with Erik ten Hag has led him to rejoin Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Asked if there’s a way back for Sancho, Sanderson said: “I don’t think so, do you? He hasn’t apologised to Erik ten Hag, has he?
“Look at what happened with Rashford. He made his mistake and clearly had that conversation with Ten Hag.
“Whether fans agree that he got into the next squad or not, he apologised and they moved on.
“I don’t necessarily think that Jadon Sancho needs to apologise because we don’t know what’s happened behind the scenes but at this point I just don’t see a way back for him at Manchester United.”
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Marcus Rashford
One of Manchester United's most valuable assets, a high-profile dispute with Ten Hag following his night out in Belfast has led Sanderson to doubt whether he's the man to lead the club into a new era.
Asked if she’d sell Rashford for £80million, Sanderson said: “Yeah. Why? Because of a lack of consistency.
“Is he really going to get you double digits every season? I love Rashford but football’s football and we want to win games.
“Are we going to win a league with Marcus Rashford leading the line? He isn’t staying at the club on the bench with his wages.
“£80million from PSG? I’d take it.”
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