Man Utd set to axe five players this summer as Sir Jim Ratcliffe demand made

Manchester United are set to sell five first-team players this summer after minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly demanded a clear-out.

United appear to be in a strong position to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit third in the Premier League, six points above fifth-placed Liverpool, so it is inevitable the club would start planning their summer transfer business.

Fans of the Red Devils will be dreaming of adding significant talent to the squad to help edge them ever closer to challenging for a title once again.

Planning will be happening between Ratcliffe and the recruitment team to workout which players they will target and how they may go about securing a deal for them.

However, this will require the Red Devils to sell several players, with the Sun reporting that there will be five individuals set to face the axe.

Three of those individuals that are poised to be sold this summer are already on loan this campaign, with those being Marcus Rashford at Barcelona, Andre Onana with Trabzonspor and Rasmus Hojlund who is at Napoli.

Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford pictured (Image: Getty)

The trio have enjoyed successful seasons across Europe this campaign, with England international Rashford currently in a Barcelona team sat top of La Liga and in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Onana and Hojlund are battling for league titles, with the Cameroonian playing for a side sat only one point behind Galatasaray in the Super Lig, while the Dane is part of a Napoli squad sitting third in Serie A, seven points behind Inter.

It is being reported United would be set to receive £64m from the loan moves of Rashford and Hojlund to Barcelona and Napoli being made permanent.

Meanwhile, there is a need for the club to receive at least £19m for keeper Onana to avoid a Profit and Sustainability blow.

Rasmus Hojlund has impressed since joining Napoli. Image: Getty

Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee are the other two players being reported to be set for an Old Trafford exit.

The pair have been used sparingly during the tenure of Michael Carrick, and this will indicate where their future lies, particularly if the former Middlesbrough manager is given the United job on a full-time basis.

United will also lose three other players this summer, which should help them in the transfer window.

Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia are to depart as free agents, freeing up cash to reinvest in the squad from their wages.