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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Mark Jones

Managing Man Utd as Harry Kane signs, David de Gea replaced and nine more leave club

The early signs have been very promising, but Erik ten Hag would be the first to tell you that he has still got plenty of work to do to get Manchester United to where he wants them.

Winning the Carabao Cup, progressing in the FA Cup and Europa League and sustaining a strong challenge for a top four finish is pretty much the best that United fans would have hoped for when the Dutchman joined the club last summer, but it is only a start and the manager will eventually want more.

Whatever happens with the takeover he's likely to get the funds to achieve more too, with either new owners or a freshly funded - but still unpopular - Glazers around to inject some cash into the squad.

What should Ten Hag do in the summer though?

Well, after putting Liverpool to rights last weekend, it's time to play Managing Man Utd .

Saying goodbye (or goodbye for now)

So, time to get rid of few who aren't needed any more.

We'll start with Anthony Martial , who has shown glimpses of his ability semi regularly - and even under Ten Hag - but just doesn't inspire you any more and can't seem to keep himself fit.

He'll have one year left on his contract come the summer so he can go for a decent fee.

Anthony Martial has suffered with injuries this season (PA)

Elsewhere in attack, Wout Weghorst won't be kept on after his loan deal and I'd loan Anthony Elanga out for the season to a mid to lower end Premier League side. If he impresses and keeps his value up I wouldn't be averse to selling him next summer if money needs to be raised.

Elsewhere, an exit really would suit all parties when it comes to Harry Maguire , who is sure to want to leave should his continued lack of action at United mean that his England place is under threat.

As Ten Hag's side play in the bigger matches come the end of the season, and Maguire is left out of them, it is sure to hit home that the centre-back needs to make a move and he'll have plenty of sides who want him.

Behind him, it might just be the end of the line for David de Gea when his enormous contract at the club expires.

Having your goalkeeper on so much money never really appeared to be the best idea, and although it is no fault of De Gea's at all, the move would be one of the bigger signs that usher in a new era under Ten Hag, who has been critical of De Gea's work with his feet at times.

Scott McTominay is under contract until 2025, but has clearly fallen down the pecking order under Ten Hag and so should be allowed to go now when he can generate the best fee.

Eric Bailly has another year on his deal after this one, while Dean Henderson also needs to leave the club for a fresh start, and Axel Tuanzebe 's deal runs out in the summer.

Alex Telles is another to be moved on after his loan at Sevilla.

Scott McTominay could generate some cash for United (Getty Images)

Incomings

Sure, there are reasons not to make it happen - with chief amongst them the fact that he'll be 30 in the summer - but the planets are beginning to align to make a United move for Harry Kane look like a sensible one in the circumstances. Indeed, a very old school United one.

The England captain won't want to leave the Premier League as he continues to chase Alan Shearer's record, and there is a clear vacancy for a No.9 in the United side, with Kane's England colleague Marcus Rashford doing his best work out left.

With one year left on his Spurs deal and uncertainty continuing around north London, you sense that only the return of Mauricio Pochettino could potentially get him to stay, and that is by no means a given.

About £100m should do it for a 30-year-old with one year left on his deal, and suddenly United are looking a formidable prospect for at least the next three years.

A move for Kane would swallow up much of the transfer budget, but it is only really in goal and defence where sizeable money needs to be spent.

Marcel Sabitzer can be brought in after his loan deal to bolster the midfield, and the returns of Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek (remember him?) means more bodies in there too. Yes a major, young addition is needed in there soonish, but United have got enough to get by for another season with Hannibal Mejbri coming back from his loan.

So, the goalkeeper?

Brentford's David Raya has turned down two new contract offers and will have a year left on his deal in the summer, meaning United should be in a prime position to bring him in on significantly less money than De Gea.

David Raya has been monitored by United (Getty Images)

An experienced back-up will be needed as well though, and a one-year deal for Keylor Navas could sort that, with the Costa Rican challenging Tom Heaton for the No.2 and No.3 spots.

In terms of replacing Maguire then how about converting Aaron Wan-Bissaka into a full-time centre-back, and then bringing in a right-back who is more comfortable going forward?

Ten Hag's compatriot Denzel Dumfries fits that role perfectly, and would be a fine signing.

Get all of those in and it would have been a decent summer.

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