Manchester United squad depth 2023/24: Players per position, injury news and Jadon Sancho latest
Manchester United added to their squad this summer with the signings of Andre Onana, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Altay Bayindir, as well as Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon on loan.
Despite spending more than £150 million ($1890m) on those permanent deals, it was a little alarming for United fans to see their club scrambling for the loans on deadline day, with Bayindir, Amrabat and Reguilon all signing in the final hours of the window; Jonny Evans also returned to the club on a year-long contract.
However, with the season now into its third month, United’s squad is already looking threadbare – and they are counting the cost in terms of results.
Mount picked up an injury in United’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at Tottenham and only returned in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace on September 26, playing the first 45 minutes. Luke Shaw is also suffering from a muscular injury and could be out for a few months. His backup, Tyrell Malacia, is yet to recover from an injury he sustained last season, leading to the scramble to sign Reguilon.
????????????️| Erik ten Hag: “I don’t think I’ve ever picked the best starting XI [at #mufc]. There’s always injuries.” pic.twitter.com/PYGzZJeEUA
— centredevils. (@centredevils) September 20, 2023
Raphael Varane has also been sidelined for a period this season – albeit he’s back now – but fellow first choice centre-back Lisandro Martinez is now anticipated to be out for an “extended period” after aggravating a foot injury from last season. Reguilon has also been out of late, forcing Ten Hag to play Amrabat as an auxillary left-back with his three primary options in that position all sidelined.
Ten Hag has also been dealing with the controversy surrounding Jadon Sancho, who publicly disputed claims from the United manager that he was dropped from the squad against Arsenal for poor form in training. Ten Hag has since confirmed Sancho is training separately from the main group and won’t be available for selection until further notice.
Winger Antony also took a leave of absence and did not participate in training or matches while responding to allegations of domestic abuse in Brazil and England, which he denies. After voluntarily speaking with police in both countries, United have since revealed the Brazilian has returned to training – and could play in the Champions League clash with Galatasaray – although the club stressed this decision would be “kept under review”.
The Sporting News takes a look at United’s squad depth situation and when the injured players might return.
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Manchester United squad depth: Why did Erik ten Hag want more signings?
United’s midfield has been a talking point in the opening few weeks of the new Premier League campaign and the focus has been on the ageing Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Both are 31 and, at times this season, their age has shown. The signing of Amrabat was sanctioned in an effort to make the midfield more defensively robust and his entry into the first team will be intriguing.
After struggling for goals last season, Hojlund has been a welcome addition up front for United, although he’s only been able to start three games to date – against Brighton, Bayern Munich and Burnley – after recovering from a back injury. He got on the scoresheet in the 4-3 defeat to Bayern.
Marcus Rashford has endured a frustrating start to the season, netting just once in seven appearances for club and country, with Alejandro Garnacho providing quality backup in Rashford’s favoured left-wing role. Anthony Martial is also capable of playing on the left, or in a central position, although he’s slipped down the pecking order at the club in recent times.
United played the most games of any English side last season and that looks to have taken its toll on the players. To combat that, Ten Hag needed to bring in reinforcements, although injuries continue to limit his options.
Manchester United squad by position
Goalkeepers
Squad No. | Player name | Age | Contract expiry |
24 | Andre Onana | 27 | June 30, 2028 |
1 | Altay Bayindir | 25 |
June 30, 2027 |
22 | Tom Heaton | 37 | June 30, 2024 |
The goalkeeping position has seen its first major development in over a decade as Ten Hag replaced legend David de Gea with Onana. Dean Henderson signed for Crystal Palace on a permanent transfer, with Altay Bayindir signed as his replacement. Veteran Tom Heaton is the other senior goalkeeper at the club.
Full-backs
Squad No. | Player name | Age | Contract expiry |
29 | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | 25 |
June 30, 2024 |
20 | Diogo Dalot | 24 | June 30, 2028 |
23 | Luke Shaw | 28 | June 30, 2027 |
12 | Tyrell Malacia | 24 | June 30, 2026 |
15 | Sergio Reguilon | 26 | June 30, 2024 |
When fully fit, the depth at full-back is relatively strong. But with the injuries to Shaw and Malacia, that left the 20-year-old Alvaro Fernandez as the only option.
The Spaniard enjoyed a successful loan period at Preston North End last season, but when Ten Hag opted to use Dalot as the left-back against Nottingham Forest that indicated that Fernandez was not quite ready to start in the Premier League and why Sergio Reguilon was ultimately signed
Fernandez was then allowed to join Granada for the season to get some more experience, yet at the time of writing United have no fit senior left-backs.
Centre-backs
Squad | Player name | Age | Contract expiry |
6 | Lisandro Martinez | 25 | June 30, 2027 |
19 | Raphael Varane | 30 |
June 30, 2025 |
2 | Victor Lindelof | 29 | June 30, 2024 |
5 | Harry Maguire | 30 | June 30, 2025 |
27 | Jonny Evans | 35 | June 30, 2024 |
The starting centre-back positions have been locked down by Martinez and Varane. Both were excellent last season but the two also had their own injury problems. Martinez broke his metatarsal against Sevilla in the Europa League and Varane struggles when required to play multiple games per week, and he could be looking at another spell out of action already this season. Martinez was also forced off against Arsenal and is now out for an “extended period” after aggravating a foot injury suffered in April.
Lindelof has leapfrogged former captain Maguire in the pecking order and the Sweden international is the automatic starter in the event Martinez or Varane are ruled out. Eric Bailly left the club on a permanent deal in the summer after a seven-year stay, joining Besiktas.
Midfielders
Squad | Player name | Age | Contract expiry |
18 | Casemiro | 31 | June 30, 2026 |
8 | Bruno Fernandes | 28 | June 30, 2026 |
7 | Mason Mount | 24 | June 30, 2028 |
39 | Scott McTominay | 26 | June 30, 2025 |
14 | Christian Eriksen | 31 | June 30, 2025 |
37 | Kobbie Mainoo | 18 | June 30, 2027 |
34 | Donny van de Beek | 26 | June 30, 2025 |
46 | Hannibal | 20 | June 30, 2024 |
4 | Sofyan Amrabat | 27 | June 30, 2024 |
Even though United brought in Mount, they were still light in midfield as their formation requires three central midfielders in the starting XI. The loan signing of Amrabat from Fiorentina was therefore welcomed by supporters – although he’s yet to play in midfield given the left-back situation.
The club allowed Fred to leave this summer for a rather cheap £12.93m ($15.7m). Academy product Kobbie Mainoo was unfortunate to get injured on the preseason tour and would have provided good depth for Mount, but he’s only just returned to training. He could feature at some point this month.
Scott McTominay was also linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer but no move was forthcoming. Donny van de Beek’s United career has never really started, but he remains at the club despite being linked with a move in the summer.
Wingers/forwards
Squad | Player name | Age | Contract expiry |
10 | Marcus Rashford | 25 | June 30, 2028 |
21 | Antony | 23 | June 30, 2027 |
25 | Jadon Sancho | 23 | June 30, 2026 |
49 | Alejandro Garnacho | 19 | June 30, 2028 |
16 | Amad Diallo | 21 | June 30, 2025 |
28 | Facundo Pellistri | 21 | June 30, 2025 |
This is arguably the strongest area for Ten Hag — if everyone is fit and available. Last season the Dutchman had the luxury of selecting two players from a crop of four.
Marcus Rashford owns the left flank, and Antony did previously lock down the right before his absence. When Rashford is forced to play down the middle, Garnacho tends to come in on the left but Sancho can also play that role.
Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri have been looking to break into that group for the past season. Pellistri has made some sub appearances and starts in the Europa League but the talent ahead of him makes it a tough challenge for starts in the top flight, although he has impressed during his fleeting appearances.
Amad, like Fernandez, enjoyed a loan spell in the Championship and was tipped to provide excellent depth. That was until he also got injured on the preseason tour in the United States.
Strikers
Squad | Player name | Age | Contract expiry |
11 | Rasmus Hojlund | 20 | June 30, 2028 |
9 | Anthony Martial | 27 | June 30, 2024 |
Regardless of the £64m ($80m) spent on Hojlund, United could do with another striker at the club.
He only had nine goals in 32 Serie A games, but it is worth mentioning he only started 20 of those, so it’s a little unfair to judge him too harshly.
Martial had five different kinds of injuries last season and missed an extraordinary 27 matches. There’s little doubt United’s better performances come when he leads the line, but he cannot be relied upon to stay fit.
A Danish boy with a dream of playing for Manchester United.
It’s real, Rasmus ❤️#MUFC pic.twitter.com/twFrEyhBYo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 5, 2023