Ruben Amorim decides to axe four Manchester United stars from pre-season tour

Ruben Amorim has already made the ruthless decision to axe four Manchester United players from the club’s upcoming pre-season tour.

The Red Devils will step up their preparations ahead of the new Premier League campaign next month with games against the likes of Leeds United, West Ham and Bournemouth.

United kicked off their summer recruitment drive with the addition of Brazil international forward Matheus Cunha and are hopeful of striking a deal with Brentford for their winger Bryan Mbeumo.

Signing a new striker is also seen as a priority with Hugo Ekitike emerging as a potential arrival given Viktor Gyokeres’ apparent reluctance to move to Old Trafford.

United hope to raise significant funds, meanwhile, by shedding their squad of players deemed surplus to requirements.

And, according to The Sun, Amorim is set to take hardline stance with a quartet of misfits, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, who have all bee told to find new clubs.

A club source said: ‘Amorim is stamping his authority on the club. It was hard arriving mid-season but he now has the opportunity to shape the team in his image. And he’s wasting no time.

‘He only wants players who would die for the shirt and are on board with his ideas.

‘He also wants a smaller squad to create an intimate team bond so that everyone gets enough game time to be at peak fitness when called upon. He doesn’t want any bad apples or distractions.’

Rashford spent an encouraging loan spell at Aston Villa during the second half of last season but the Midlands club are unlikely to be able to afford to make the move a permanent one.

The England international, himself, had been craving a move to Barcelona and was even willing to take a pay cut to join the Spanish giants but Nico Williams’ imminent arrival from Athletic Bilbao has put paid to that dream.

Sancho, meanwhile, is reported to have reached an agreement with Serie A champions Napoli having seen his hopes of a permanent move to Chelsea, where he spent last season on loan, dashed.

Antonio Conte’s side were also touted a potential destination for Garnacho but the Argentina international is also understood to be of interest to several Premier League clubs including Chelsea, who tried to buy him in January, and Arsenal.

Like Rashford, Antony kickstarted his career with a loan move in January and enjoyed a superb spell at Real Betis.

United want at least €35m for the former Ajax winger and he has been linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen who are now managed by Erik ten Hag.