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Manchester United are on the verge of parting ways with struggling manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Reports from multiple sources suggest an announcement announcing his sacking is imminent and could come as early as Sunday.
The news comes as no surprise. If anything, fans and experts were baffled the Norwegian kept his post for so long after a horrific run of just four wins in Manchester United's last 13 games.
Failure to rotate was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's downfall at Manchester United
One of many criticisms Solskjaer has faced during his tenure as Manchester United boss is his failure to rotate his star-studded squad. The Red Devils' recent 2-0 derby defeat to Manchester City saw the home side name a bench worth over £175 million.
The lack of rotation in personnel in the much-maligned defense and centre-midfield, in particular, has been glaring in recent weeks. Any new manager is certain to ring in the changes, and some players might be in danger of being shipped out or seeing reduced playing time.
Nonetheless, with Solskjaer reportedly on his way out, here are five players who could suffer after his exit from Old Trafford.
#5 David de Gea
David de Gea's situation at Manchester United is a confusing one. There's no doubt the first-choice keeper is an exceptional shot-stopper and has arguably been Manchester United's best player in this wretched run.
However, the Spaniard still has the occasional mistake in him, as the recent draw in the Champions League against Atalanta showed. There have also been question marks over his ball-playing ability and distribution, which is ironic considering Spanish players are among the finest passers in the world.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have a talented keeper who, in the past, has been touted to go on and become England's No.1 between the sticks. Dean Henderson has been limited to just 19 appearances for the club in the past 16 months. At 24, he is seven years younger than his Spanish colleague in the Red Devils' goal.
A new manager might just decide that it's time to move on from the 31-year-old keeper, as coaches often begin re-tooling squads from the very back. Pep Guardiola's handling of Joe Hart at Manchester City back in 2016 proved that even fan-favorites and long-term club icons are never safe.
#4 Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay is one of Manchester United's own. He's been associated with the club since the age of five and is a graduate of the club academy. Nonetheless, there is little room for sentiments in football. Most fans already believe that despite the Scottish international's industry, he simply isn't of the caliber one would expect from Manchester United's first-choice central midfielder.
The 24-year-old has always been used by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a double pivot with Fred. However, it is the Brazilian who has become a scapegoat at Old Trafford in recent months. Pundits single Fred out for criticism while his partner McTominay escapes relatively unscathed despite his inconsistent displays.
Perhaps it's because the Scottish international came up the ranks at Manchester United, or maybe it's Fred's £50 million transfer fee. But at 24, McTominay isn't a youngster anymore and doesn't offer enough in defense or while going forward. He is almost certain to lose his spot once a permanent replacement for Solskjaer is found.
#3 Aaron-Wan Bissaka
Manchester United's English right-back is undoubtedly one of the best one-on-one defenders and tacklers in the world. The problem is that there is little else to Aaron Wan-Bissaka than his slide tackles.
Wan-Bissaka arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2019 for a £50 million fee after being named Crystal Palace's Player of the Year for the previous season. Although he led the Premier League in tackles (129) in his first season with Manchester United, there's a sense that Wan-Bissaka has stagnated.
He remains largely the same player who arrived from London and has not been able to develop the offensive side of his game or improve his delivery from crosses. AWB's defensive positioning has also come under the scanner and his lack of awareness played a big role in Manchester United's group-stage exit from last year's UEFA Champions League campaign.
Despite Manchester United's awful defensive run of three clean sheets in their last 25 games, Wan-Bissaka has retained his place. Manchester United's only other option at right-back at the moment is Diogo Dalot, who could be on his way out in January. With the club already targeting Kieran Trippier, Wan-Bissaka's starting spot is anything but secure.
#2 Harry Maguire
The transfer fee of £80 million is promptly shoved in the faces of Manchester United supporters by rival fans at every opportunity. Not much needs to be said about 28-year-old Harry Maguire, Manchester United's club captain and the most expensive defender in football history.
It is fitting that Maguire's sending off at Watford on Saturday is likely to be the final nail in the coffin of Solskjaer's reign as Manchester United manager. The shambolic display came after an eventful international break where Maguire scored in successive games and invited a barrage of criticism with his celebration. It goes without saying that not a single critic has been silenced.
Manchester United's dismal clean sheet record - just three in their last 25 games - is proper relegation form. The fact that Maguire retained his place throughout that disastrous run despite numerous high-profile individual errors that led to his team conceding goals was baffling. Now his place in the XI and his future as club captain are in danger.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Solskjaer's inevitable exit throws up massive questions for Manchester United talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be unfair to blame the club's predicament on the Portuguese superstar.
If anything, he is the sole reason the Red Devils haven't already been eliminated from the Champions League. Ronaldo has scored in every UCL game the club has played this season (five goals in four games), including a couple of late winners and a last-ditch equalizer.
However, the tactical troubles thrown up by Ronaldo's surprise return to Old Trafford this summer are impossible to ignore. With one goal in his last seven Premier League games, something isn't quite right with Manchester United's main man.
Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani have all been shuffled or dropped to accommodate CR7. It was easier to ignore the lack of intensity and pressing when the goals were flowing. Now it's a different story.
Could a new manager be tempted to drop Cristiano Ronaldo? Will the aging 36-year-old be rested for more games than he'd like? Will Manchester United turn to their younger options? Only time will tell but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's exit doesn't offer any immediate answers for a key figure who has appeared increasingly frustrated in recent weeks.
