David de Gea
He has figuratively stood still, is literally rooted to his line and in 11 years has been credited with one Premier League assist (that Bruno Fernandes grazed en route to Edinson Cavani ). Yet if an Exocet was fired at a goalframe De Gea would still be the most dependable 'keeper to halt it.
De Gea's commitment to United has grown with his longevity and he chimed with supporters at Crystal Palace when he advised certain teammates, "'If you don't want to stay, go."
For four years De Gea was the best 'keeper around and while he relinquished that status four years ago, he is still up there with Alisson, Thibaut Courtois, Ederson, Manuel Neuer and Jan Oblak. The goalkeeping situation at United could be re-evaluated next year but Dean Henderson already has one foot out of the door and Erik ten Hag needs a squad that is completely committed.
READ MORE: United offering Wan-Bissaka to clubs
Raphael Varane
Varane suffered his sixth injury or ailment since joining United in France's 2-1 Nations League defeat to Denmark on Friday night. Varane, 29, is in danger of being bracketed with other starry signings whose careers died at United. His reputation was intact for most of the season as he avoided participation in the first five four-goal maulings, then Varane was all at sea by the Brighton seaside.
Up until then, it was fair to cite Varane's absence against Leicester, Liverpool, Watford and City as a contributing factor to the thrashings. United are a better defensive side with Varane in it and they never lost when he and Harry Maguire started and finished a game together. That only happened 11 times.
United signed Varane ten years later than they would have wished but he is a serial winner and their only centre-back who has operated at a consistent world-class level throughout his career. The Varane-Maguire axis has potential but a credible competitor is needed to keep both on their toes.
Fred
The definition of a "top player" was reassessed when Sir Alex Ferguson wrote he was "one of the few who felt Steven Gerrard was not a top, top player" in his 2013 score-settler. Gerrard was. Fred is not and, at 29, may never be.
But the best players do not always make for the best team and United's undoing in last year's Europa League final was Fred's absence from the starting XI. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer relocated Paul Pogba, on a majestic run of form off the left, to centre midfield and refused to drop the waning Marcus Rashford, who produced one of the worst individual performances in a European final.
Fred is the only United regular who outright improved under Ralf Rangnick in a more advanced role that Michael Carrick first deployed him in. Fred developed a greater sense of adventure, tallying praiseworthy assists and scoring key goals that secured seven points.
There is already enough (required) upheaval in midfield and Fred could be the glue between a defensive-minded teammate and a controller.
Bruno Fernandes
United must be tempted to ask for their money and commission back from Fernandes and his representatives, or deduct the wage hike they gifted him in March. He has got worse and Fernandes has played his best football for United with supporters stuck at home.
Fernandes needs to refine his leadership if he is to assume the captaincy permanently. He tiresomely whinges at officials and teammates without having an influence on either and Fernandes appears to lack accountability, in-game at least.
The only upside of Fernandes's contract is it suggests he is committed. His impact in 2019-20 was transformative and his second season was so positive he retained the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. Fernandes can create something out of nothing and that knack bailed out United almost as regularly as Cristiano Ronaldo did.
Mastering a controlling style aligned with Ten Hag's approach may be beyond Fernandes but many teammates could do with adopting his mentality and he is a clutch player.
Jadon Sancho
The United pressure cooker was always bound to make Sancho sweat after four years under no pressure at Bundesliga also-rans Borussia Dortmund. It was not a coincidence he started to improve almost as soon as Solskjaer was sacked and, unlike United, benefited from the mid-season break in January.
United earmarked Sancho as their right wing priority in 2020 and a year later he was a winger. Solskjaer seemed uncertain whether to go left or right and in September dropped Sancho. Sancho played his finest football from the left under Rangnick but his season was so chastening he was dropped from the England squad.
Still, come the first day of the season United fans will want to see Sancho's name in the starting XI. Talk of potential in the squad just about applies to the 22-year-old and Ten Hag has maximised inverted wingers at Ajax.
Cristiano Ronaldo
"What does Ronaldo bring?" Ten Hag was asked last week. "Goals!" he resoundingly replied.
Ronaldo turns 38 in eight months yet he plundered more goals for United in 2021-22 than he did in 2006-07, the first world-class campaign of his career.
There have been doubts over his future and Ronaldo is understandably unhappy at United's decline, yet he underlined his commitment and backed Ten Hag in a club-approved video on Friday.
United supporters will recall Ronaldo telling all and sundry he would stay in 2008 before attempting to engineer a transfer to Real Madrid. He gave the same response the next year and did go. If an agent can make the impossible possible it is Jorge Mendes but all the noises so far suggest Ronaldo will have one last step-over dance at United.
Climbing the Premier League ladder is essential and Ten Hag can preserve Ronaldo for weekends by resting him in the six Europa League group stage games and the League Cup before the season is halted on November 13 for the World Cup.
