Man United confirm the release of SEVEN players on their retained list – but remain in talks with four stars over new deals

Manchester United have confirmed the release of seven players after revealing their retained list for the 2024-25 season.

There are still doubts ahead of this summer at Old Trafford, with manager Erik ten Hag’s future yet to be revealed.

But there was no doubt about several players expected to leave due to their contracts expiring at Old Trafford.

It had already been announced that former Real Madrid star Raphael Varane and his French compatriot Anthony Martial would be leaving the club.

They have been joined by five other players, with other notable names such as Brandon Williams and under-21 player-coach Tom Huddlestone.

Anthony Martial also leaves the club after nine years at Old Trafford

Brandon Williams (left) leaves the club for which he made 51 appearances during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as manager.

Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United has yet to be revealed despite winning the FA Cup

The club also confirmed that Charlie McNeill, Marcus Lawrence and Kie Plumley will leave the club at the end of their current contracts.

Meanwhile, four players are still in contract talks to renew their expiring deals, including veterans Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton.

United are also interested in extending Shola Shoretire’s stay at the club, as well as Omari Forson, although Mail Sport have reported that the latter has rejected their latest offer.

Varane leaves the club three years after joining the club from Real Madrid, after he also left Los Blancos as a free agent.

He formed an excellent partnership with Lisandro Martínez in 2022-23, but the most recent campaign was a mixed bag for the 31-year-old.

Varane struggled for form and fitness and at times fell behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans in the pecking order.

However, he was formidable in defense as United pulled off an upset over Man City in the FA Cup final.

Meanwhile, Martial burst onto the scene at United in 2015, with a stunning goal against Liverpool following his departure from Monaco.

Omari Forson is not part of the seven, but his future is up in the air after he rejected his latest deal.

Veterans Tom Heaton (left) and Jonny Evans (right) are still in contract negotiations.

However, he failed to fulfill his potential and struggled to become a regular at Old Trafford over the past four years. He made 317 appearances for the club in total.

He was expected to leave after a loan move to Sevilla in the 2021-22 season, but remained with the Red Devils for another two seasons.

Williams made 51 appearances for United during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at Old Trafford, although he was loaned out to Norwich and promoted to Ipswich in the last two seasons. A return to Ipswich could be possible after making 17 appearances for them last season.

Losing Forson would be a huge blow for the Red Devils. In January, the young man became number 249. academy graduate to break into the first team when He came off the bench in the FA Cup against Wigan Athletic.

He then earned his first Premier League start in a defeat against Fulham at Old Trafford.

In November, United were confident they could reach an agreement with Forson and his representatives, having shown him a future as part of the first team.

However, those attempts have so far been unsuccessful.