Manchester United qualifying for the Champions League would've been unthinkable earlier in the season. Under Ruben Amorim, they were spending more time looking down than up, and the mood around the three-time European champions was one of despair.

With the new year came yet another fresh start, but unlike previous false dawns, Michael Carrick's interim stint has been nothing short of a masterclass. Granted, United have benefited from only having the Premier League to focus on, having missed out on European football last year and been knocked out of both domestic cups prior to Carrick's arrival.

But even still, the Englishman has guided United back to Europe's top table, and done so with plenty of room to spare. Whether it's enough to get the job on a full-time basis remains to be seen, but it sets the Red Devils up nicely for what looks like being a big summer in the transfer market.

It's estimated a windfall of £100million could be heading United's way as a result of qualifying for the Champions League, with the Old Trafford-based outfit expected to spend. Rumours have it that United have a shortlist of nine players heading into the summer transfer window, with central midfield and centre back additions top of their agenda.

But in order to spend, they'll also need to sell. With a top-five finish secured, Carrick shuffled his pack during the weekend draw against Sunderland, with starts being handed out to several of United's fringe players. Among them were Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, who it's fair to say, flattered to deceive during the goalless draw.

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Zirkzee, who joined United from Bologna in 2024, has struggled to make an impact ever since his arrival, with the striker having been linked to an exit in each of the previous two transfer windows. In the end, it didn't materialise, with Zirkzee having been keen to fight for his place in the starting XI, but it looks as if this summer will be the final straw for the Dutch international.

Mount, by contrast, has impressed on occasion, but his issues have been related to his availability. The Englishman has missed just under a quarter (9) of United's Premier League matches through injury this season, and has therefore found minutes hard to come by upon his return to the squad.

United shelled out an initial fee of £55m for the midfielder in 2023, but across the three seasons since, he's managed just 70 appearances across all competitions. A poor return, and it wouldn't be a shock to see Mount among the discarded United players this summer.