Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim will need to sell a number of his high-profile players in the off-season if the club is going to change its fortunes, according to Red Devils legend Sammy McIlroy.
United finished 15th in the Premier League table, which was their worst since the inception of the competition in 1992.
Added to their season of woe was losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.
Had United beaten their London foes, it would have booked their ticket into the Champions League next season.
Man United Set to Sell Big for Squad Overhaul, Says McIlroy
Now, it means United will have to seriously beef up their squad if they are going to produce radically improved results next season.
“It looks like we’re going to have to sell – and sell big to get new players in next season,” stressed McIlroy, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com.
“That might mean selling good players for Man Utd so we’re better off in the future. Players like [Kobbie] Mainoo and [Alejandro] Garnacho have been mentioned, so some supporters will be thinking: hang on, these are young boys, and we can build the club around them.”
McIlroy, who spent 11 years with the club from 1971 to 1982, said Amorim needed the chance to fully expand his squad.
“For me, this manager deserves a decent chance in the transfer market, I really do.”
“He’s come in mid-season, and he deserves that chance.”
McIlroy, however, said it would be difficult adopting his preferred formation with the current squad.
“OK, he’s got a system he likes to play and he’s sticking to that system, so then if you’re going to keep him then the club has to back him.”
“You’ve got to say, ‘how much do you need?’, but the big question for me is who is going to buy the players he’s going to make available.”
“There are not many clubs out there who can pay the wages that we’ve been paying. That’s going to be the problem.”
@Michael_Sherman
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