Manchester United under-23 coach Ricky Sbragia leaves club as summer shake-up begins

 Tahith Chong of Manchester United is presnted with the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award by U23s manager Ricky Sbragia at the club's annual Player of the Year awards at Old Trafford
Ricky Sbragia with Tahith Chong at United's Player of the Year awards Credit: Getty images

Manchester United’s under-23 coach, Ricky Sbragia, has left the club by mutual consent. The former Sunderland manager has parted company with United in what is expected to be the first of a number of changes in a summer shake-up at Old Trafford.

United’s Under-23s won just eight of their 22 matches last season, finishing sixth in the table, and Sbragia has agreed it is time to move on.

Warren Joyce, United’s reserve team manager for eight years until his departure in 2016, has been linked with the role after recently leaving the Manchester City-owned Melbourne City in Australia, although well-placed sources at Old Trafford suggested that was unlikely at this stage.

Nicky Butt, who heads up United’s academy, is likely to determine the next move, which could involve some restructuring, as they bid to close the gap that has developed at some of the junior ages to rivals such as Manchester City and Chelsea.

Sbragia’s departure marks the end of the 62-year-old Scot’s second spell at United. He spent three years as reserve team coach between 2002 and 2005 before leaving to become first team coach at Bolton Wanderers under Sam Allardyce.

Nicky Butt talks at Man Utd's end of season awards ceremony
Nicky Butt, the head of United’s academy, could oversee some restructering Credit: Getty images

He left Bolton for Sunderland, eventually becoming manager in 2008, before leaving to take on a series of roles with the Scotland junior set up. He returned to United in 2017.

As well as wanting to appoint a technical director to take a longer term view on recruitment, United are expected to be busy in the transfer market.

Solskjaer is targeting as many as five new players, including a right back, centre-half, two midfielders and a right-sided forward, and will focus predominantly on British players. Talks are under way with Swansea City for Wales winger Daniel James and Newcastle are braced for an approach for midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Like Manchester City, there is interest in Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Leicester centre-half, Harry Maguire, as well as Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. United have cooled their interest in a move for the £100 million rated Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho for now, with the failure to qualify for the Champions League weakening their hand and the German club reluctant to sell.

A series of players will also depart. Ander Herrera is joining Paris St Germain on a free transfer and Antonio Valencia’s will leave when his contract expires next month. The futures of a host of other players are uncertain.

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