"When old soldiers die, new ones come in," Erik ten Hag said. The creaking warhorses Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are out of contract in under three months.
Varane's frank admission his body is "damaged" last week hardly strengthened his bargaining hand. Evans is breaking down as much as one would expect from a 36-year-old who has already played more minutes this term than he did for Leicester City last season.
Varane has had six separate lay-offs this term and he has appeared in 93 United games out of a possible 154. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Michael Carrick and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only other outfielders to have played for United beyond their 36th birthday since Ryan Giggs retired in 2014.
United were due to have a recovery day on Monday yet Evans and Varane require weeks. United have four more games this month and Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala are assured of starting as long as they do not join the patients in the physio's room. LUCKHURST: The cases for and against United sacking Ten Hag READ MORE: Klopp aims dig at United after Liverpool lose nerve again Tom Heaton, Anthony Martial and Brandon Williams are among the senior players whose deals expire at the end of June.
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