Manchester United (Man U) is drawing attention amid warnings that it could be embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League next season.
Former manager Alan Pardew (64), who led Newcastle United and West Ham United, appeared on Britain's 'Talksport' on the 16th (KST) and included Man U among the teams "at risk of relegation next season."
Pardew claimed, "All teams in the bottom 10, including Man U. That club must be watched closely," adding, "Currently, there are five first-team players training separately from Man U. This sends the wrong message to other players. They might think, 'Someday I could end up like that.'
Man U finished 15th in the Premier League last season, marking the worst season in the club's history. The team won only 11 matches out of 38 (with 18 losses) and scored just 44 goals. They conceded even more with 54 goals.
In addition to performance issues, internal conflicts arose. Ruben Amorim, the manager of Man U, was embroiled in disputes with Marcus Rashford (28) and Alejandro Garnacho (21), while Antony (25) only regained his form after being loaned to Real Betis, leading the team to the UEFA Conference League final.
In the current summer transfer market, Man U is also not active. Their only achievement is signing Matheus Cunha (26) from Wolverhampton. They are targeting Bryan Mbeumo (26, Brentford), but their first offer was rejected, and the second proposal has not yet been made.
In this situation, five key players, including Tyrell Malacia (26), Jadon Sancho (25), Antony, Rashford, and Garnacho, are seeking transfers while being excluded from training.
Pardew added, "They brought in a good player from Wolverhampton. The skills are outstanding, but the issue is stopping goals," noting, "However, that aspect has hardly changed so far. Ultimately, everything hinges on whether these five players can be disposed of. It's almost a case of 'emergency sales' now."
Man U will play its first preseason friendly against Leeds United on the 19th. There isn't much time until the league opener against Arsenal on August 18. Man U will face the 2025-2026 season without European competition. Whether they can rebound remains uncertain.
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