sport news MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: How more than TEN stars could be exit-bound this ... trends now

Whatever fate awaits Erik ten Hag this summer, the number of Manchester United stars making an Old Trafford exit could hit double figures as new co-owners Ineos ring the changes.

Anthony Martial will leave as a free agent and he could be followed by Raphael Varane and Brandon Williams when their contracts run out in June. United must also decide whether to offer Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton extensions.

It's anticipated that Sofyan Amrabat will be allowed to return to Fiorentina when his loan expires, with United unlikely to take up an option to sign the Moroccan for £21.4million.

United's new hierarchy of chief executive Omar Berrada, football director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox is not yet in place, but decisions will have to be made over selling a number of big names as United look to comply with Financial Fair Play.

Industry sources have told Confidential that Casemiro, Antony, Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are among those who could be sold, although there's an understanding that it won't be practical to offload too many at one time.

There are also six players out on loan and Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Donny van de Beek, Facundo Pellistri, Hannibal Mejbri and Alvaro Fernandez could all make permanent moves.

The clear-out would make way for some of the young academy talent that has emerged under Ten Hag this season and a number of new signings this summer.

Even though FFP will squeeze the budget again, United are expected to be in the market for a striker, central midfielder and at least one if not two centre-backs and full-backs.

While Ineos continue to plan for the future with Ten Hag in charge, the situation remains fluid and is likely to hinge on how United finish this season.

Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Championship side Coventry City will be crucial in determining whether the Dutchman's second campaign ends with a return to Wembley or continues to fizzle out.

Roche in budget Bernabeu recce

Manchester City fans flying back from their Champions League quarter-final in Madrid last week were surprised to see United's chief operating officer Collette Roche on the budget Easyjet flight.

Confidential learns that Roche was taking a look at the spectacularly remodelled Bernabeu as part of her role on the taskforce exploring plans to regenerate Old Trafford.

Although the club have backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's vision to knock down the stadium and rebuild on the same site, the costs involved may force United to look at revamping Old Trafford instead.

It would involve overcoming significant obstacles and wouldn't be cheap either – Real Madrid have spent £1.5billion giving the Bernabeu a makeover – but the taskforce are keeping both options on the table.

Before Ratcliffe's investment, Roche would have been more likely to travel to Spain in business class. However, the efficiency drive being conducted by Ineos and their restructuring consultants Interpath to save money and invest in football means that even senior executives have to cut their cloth accordingly. Some have had their corporate credit cards withdrawn, and other employees no longer have access to chauffeur driven cars.

Utd on trail of 'Gustavinho'

A scout from United was in Porto Alegre last week to run the rule over Gremio left winger Gustavo Nunes, one of the latest rising stars to come out of Brazil.

Gustavinho, as he has been nicknamed by Gremio fans, only made his senior debut for the club in February but has already attracted interest from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

The 18-year-old was a half-time substitute in Gremio's 2-0 Copa Libertadores group defeat to Huachipato, so at least the scout didn't have a wasted trip.

United are said to be putting greater focus on emerging South American talent in a bid to get more value for their money as Financial Fair Play continues to restrict the budget.

Ten Hag sticks to Wembley way

Stick to the plan is one of Ten Hag's favourite phrases, and the United boss will follow his own advice when it comes to preparing for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.

United managers have taken different approaches to big games at Wembley in the past. Jose Mourinho, for instance, had his players training for two days at Fulham's Motspur Park complex before the FA Cup semi against Tottenham in 2018 because United had played at Bournemouth in midweek.

But Ten Hag will follow a similar plan to last season when he conducted his pre-match press conference at Carrington before United travelled down to London, staying in the same hotel and training on university pitches before the FA Cup semi-final and final against Brighton and Manchester City.

U18s blaze trail for academy

There has been precious little for United fans to genuinely get excited about this season. That, however, does not apply to an academy set-up that is going to be the envy of rivals for years to come with so many bright talents looking capable of making the grade.

On Tuesday, United's youngsters sealed the U18 Premier League North title with victory away to Wolves. United's U18s have been a class apart under Adam Lawrence this season and can now complete the Double when they take on Man City in the Premier League Cup on April 23.

A look back at the last time United won the North league, they boasted a squad that included James Garner, Teden Mengi, Tahith Chong, Greenwood, Brandon Williams, Angel Gomes, Ethan Laird and more. Many of those have gone on to make it as a full-time professional, either at United for a while or elsewhere.

And the manager for the last U18s title win? That would be Kieran McKenna, the man now on the cusp of back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League. So Lawrence's current crop find themselves in esteemed company.

Back Rooney for Beeb slot

Wayne Rooney's public apology for pulling out of Saturday's Match of the Day after hurting his back on holiday – and the subsequent acceptance by host Gary Lineker – only increases the chances of United's record scorer being part of the BBC punditry team for this summer's Euros.

The Beeb have courted Rooney for some time, believing

read more from dailymail.....