Ronaldo, Maguire and Man Utd's five most sellable assets

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 20 Apr 2022 15:34 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United have just lost 4-0 to rivals Liverpool and are without silverware since 2017. A rebuild is needed according to Ralf Rangnick, but which player sales should fund it?

"It's embarrassing, it's disappointing, maybe even humiliating," said Rangnick after that chastening defeat. "We have to accept Liverpool are six years ahead of us now.

"If you analyse the situation it's not difficult to analyse. For me, it's clear there will be six, seven, eight, maybe 10 new players. Before you sign those players you need to be aware how you want to play."

Up to 10 new players could be out of the reach for even Man Utd. Who might they sell to subsidise such a facelift?

Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire remains the world record transfer for a defender, having cost Man Utd £80 million (€96m) when he signed from Leicester City in 2019.

Whilst part of a defence which has haemorrhaged 48 goals in 33 Premier League games this season, Maguire remains in the 80th percentile league-wide for shot-creating actions, and the 93rd for touched in the attacking penalty area.

An England regular to boot, Maguire could both prove an attractive option for one of Man Utd's competitors, and solve a potential problem for them on and off the pitch if he left.

Marcus Rashford

A homegrown fan favourite, Marcus Rashford captured the hearts and minds of the British public when his activism pushed Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend free school meals into the summer holidays during the coronavirus pandemic.

But his impact on the field has waned in recent seasons, and this term the 24-year-old England forward has only mustered five goals in 30 games in all competitions.

Rashford has a contract which runs until 2023, so Man Utd could command a significant transfer fee from a club who might benefit from giving an attacker approaching his prime a breath of fresh air.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo may not fetch the £80m (€94m) he did for Man Utd the last time he left the club, for Real Madrid in 2009, but he would likely still command north of £30m should he leave Old Trafford before his contract until 2023 contract is up.

Ronaldo still scores goals for the club - 21 in 35 games at a rate of one every 136 minutes - but United finished second with Rashford in particular pressing from the front under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season; whereas this term they are struggling to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo remains a formidable player, and his goals alone would likely win many other leagues outside of England. Perhaps United should cash in.

Dean Henderson

A year ago, everything was looking rosy for Dean Henderson at Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had installed him as the club's No.1 ahead of David de Gea - a role that he had looked set to keep into this season before being struck by Covid in August.

He has since struggled to feature at all and is subject to interest from several Premier League rivals. With the World Cup looming, the England international needs more game time.

Alex Telles

Alex Telles has racked up plenty of minutes for Man Utd this season - more than 1,500 in all competitions - as first-choice left-back Luke Shaw has struggled with hamstring injuries and COVID. And, unlike some of his teammates, he has done himself justice.

Shaw is likely to be fit and firing next season, though, while Brandon Williams is ready to act as his debut after a season on loan at Norwich City. Telles is still the right side of 30, and could fetch as much as £15m (€18m) million in a position United seem potentially well stocked in.