Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho should all depart the club.
Old Trafford is set for a major summer shake-up following another disappointing season, with Ruben Amorim’s squad finishing with the lowest points tally in the club’s Premier League history.
INEOS has demonstrated its commitment to backing Amorim in the transfer market by securing the imminent arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolves for a substantial fee, pending visa approval and registration.
However, this is just the beginning of United’s squad overhaul, as several first-team players face uncertain futures and appear likely to leave.
Rashford, Sancho, and Antony spent the latter half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Real Betis, respectively, with mixed results. All three are expected to move on in the coming weeks.
On the latest episode of It’s Called Soccer, Neville emphasized that these players should be offloaded, adding Garnacho to the list due to his public dispute with Amorim.
Despite advocating for these departures, Neville is adamant that United must retain academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, who has been linked with a potential move to Chelsea.
‘On these five I’m pretty certain. Marcus Rashford has to leave for him and the club. I think that ship has sailed and he needs to find himself another club,’ the former United and England right-back said.
‘I would worry that Aston Villa haven’t announced that they’re keeping him already because I think that could have been an easy deal to do with United if they were going to keep him, so it sounds to me like Villa aren’t going to keep him.
‘I would say for Marcus’ sake and for United’s sake that it feels like that path has come to an end.’
Switching his attentions to Sancho, Neville added: ‘I feel a little bit similarly with him as I do with Marcus.
‘I’d be a bit concerned that Chelsea haven’t made the noises that they’re going to keep him.
‘Again, Manchester United have to make sure they part ways with him and, from Jadon’s point of view, he has to make sure that he parts ways with Manchester United.’
Antony rediscovered his best form at Real Betis during the latter half of the season, delivering an impressive tally of nine goals and five assists for the Spanish side.
Despite his resurgence, the Brazilian has expressed his desire to end his time at Manchester United, and Gary Neville believes the club has little choice but to approve his departure.
‘I can imagine he was absolutely going under while he was at Old Trafford,’ Neville said.
‘He’s gone to Spain and having seen a couple of players that I played with not do it Old Trafford but do it in Spain… I think he’s suited down to the ground and it’s been proven.
‘Over there, there’s a different tactical awareness, there’s a different technical ability and there’s a way of playing that’s just more suited to players.
‘The players I’m referring to are players like Kleberson or Diego Forlan. It just didn’t quite happen for them but they had really good careers and I think there are players like that who just aren’t suited to a league.
‘I think Antony is perfect for Spain and, again, somebody who Manchester United should facilitate leaving. It’s best for Antony and best for the club.’
Discussing Garnacho’s situation, Neville went on: ‘I think if players are taking on the manager and if players are questioning the manager in public through social media or through other means, the manager has to win.
‘If the manager doesn’t win, the manager has to leave and I don’t think that’s going to happen this time. That’s happened far too many times before.
‘I think Garnacho will leave purely because of that, I think they’ve had enough. Garnacho can play in the Premier League, no doubt, but I think he’ll love it in Spain, he’ll thrive over there, he’ll score goals.
‘He’ll probably be someone next season that we’re all looking back on thinking, “Why didn’t Manchester United keep him?”, that type of thing will probably happen, there’s an element of that, but I think he has to go.
‘That’s not me throwing my toys out the pram and saying, “Get him out the club!”… no, for him and the club, I think it’s right that he goes.
‘Those four players should leave, not just because Manchester United should let them go, but because they should go and find themselves a place in their lives where they can go and play football because it’s not at Old Trafford.’
Speculation has emerged suggesting that United might consider selling Mainoo, a move that would be financially beneficial since he is a homegrown talent.
However, Neville believes that Ruben Amorim should be shaping his midfield around Mainoo, insisting that letting him go would be an excessive decision.
‘Mainoo, no. That’s a step too far,’ the eight-time Premier League winner argued.
‘If we can’t give Kobbie Mainoo a job in that two in midfield… I look at Mainoo and the way he plays football and I think a top club would want him.
‘Why can’t we make him a top player? If he’s one of ours and he’s shown talent.
‘I don’t know what’s gone on there in the last few months. He’s obviously had some injuries which has caused him a problem so he needs to stay fit, but I’d like to think he could be one of that two in midfield that Ruben Amorim plays.
‘It’s probably not Casemiro as his partner and it’s probably not Ugarte as his partner, it’s probably someone else in there who is better than those two, if I’m being honest.
‘But we should be building around Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield and not because he’s come through the ranks.’
‘When your club signs a player, you should be excited. We know some of the players that play in his position are going to leave,’ he said.
‘We know that United haven’t had players in that position this season because Rashford, Sancho, Antony have all been put out on loan, Garnacho is more than likely going to go with what’s happened in the last week.
‘Cunha’s goals have been growing in the last couple of years. He had a decent return for a club that has been near the bottom of the Premier League than the top.
‘Am I excited? Yeah, I am excited by it because United need players who know the Premier League, have got a bit more robustness about them in terms of what they’ve been through before and being at Wolves… that’ll be tough because they lose quite a few matches.
‘I’m hoping he comes to Old Trafford and sees this vast pitch, this amazing stadium, with 75,000 fans who love a player who can take someone on, someone who can travel with the ball.
‘I’m hoping that he can shine a light. I’m not saying one player is going to change what’s going on at the moment, but one player can be a spark.’
