Manchester United are reportedly expected to part ways with two of their most experienced squad members at the end of the season.
With United enduring their worst-ever Premier League campaign, a comprehensive rebuild under Ruben Amorim is an inevitability ahead of the summer transfer window.
Red Devils officials will first need to determine what level of revenue is coming into the club, a Europa League trophy required to secure Champions League qualification for 2025-26.
Nevertheless, United will naturally look to free up spaces in their squad, ensuring that they continue to lower the wage bill when they need to strengthen their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United will reduce their outings by giving the green light to two notable exits.
Heaton, Evans to leave Man United
The report claims that each of goalkeeper Tom Heaton and defender Jonny Evans will depart Old Trafford when their contracts expire at the end of the campaign.
Heaton, now 39 years of age, has only played three times since returning to the club in 2021 and has not featured since playing the full 90 minutes in an EFL Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in February 2023.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Evans has not been seen since an outing versus Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup back in December.
That represents just one of two outings since the arrival of Amorim, the other coming in the Portuguese's first game on November 24.
Currently sidelined through injury, the only realistic prospect of another first-team appearance is if United are involved in a dead-rubber nearer the end of the season.
A wide array of other players may also leave United, the most recent speculation involving goalkeeper Andre Onana courtesy of his two mistakes against Lyon in the Europa League last week.
What are Heaton's, Evans's future plans?
There is a suggestion that both Heaton and Evans could retire and become part of Amorim's backroom staff, whether that be with the senior team or academy setup.
Both players are respected figures behind the scenes, Evans regarded as a club legend courtesy of his 240 appearances across two spells and contributing to 12 pieces of silverware being won. body check tags ::
