Devoted Manchester United fans will remember Rũben Amorim's infamous 'five-man-bomb-squad' he identified during his first summer transfer window with the Reds.

The players included were fringe players, or not up to the standard of Premier League football, especially for a team as prestigious as United.

These players included the recently departed Antony, Marcus Rashford, whose future hangs in the balance, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and the improved Rasmus Hojlund.

It's fair to say Amorim's chopping block has proved fruitful, as all the players listed have either left the club permanently or will leave Reds for good at the end of this season.

According to Sky Sports, the board has added two more players to a new iteration of the 'five-man-bomb-squad', to join the players whose future remains uncertain.

Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee have come short when it comes to game time; the pair have struggled to break into the starting eleven since the arrival of interim manager Michael Carrick.

Ugarte, who arrived at the club with expectations he would become the long-term Casemiro replacement, has been underwhelming to put it gently. The Uruguayan has played more minutes in one friendly match for his national side than he has under Carrick so far.

Under three different managers, Ugarte has repeatedly failed to impress, and the club has repeatedly come to the end of its tether, as they consider his departure in the near future.

Zirkzee's story parallels Ugarte's. The Dutchman was dropped over the expensive signing of Hojlund during Erik ten Hag's tenure, and has struggled for a consistent run of games since. 

Although faced with injuries, when fit, Carrick has favoured Benjamin Šeško and Bryan Mbeumo, who have performed remarkably this season so far. The 24-year-old has struggled to lock down a position as well, as he's described himself as a '9.5' previously, but no one is displacing Bruno Ferndes in the attacking midfielder position anytime soon.

Last season feels like a decade ago; the club's progress has wavered at times, but it has largely improved from what was the worst Premier League season in the club's history.

Some of the antagonists involved in last season's demise remain on the club's books, Andre Onana, for example, who has spent the season on loan at Trabzonspor. His departure is all but done, as Senne Lammens has claimed the number one spot

Rashford and Hojlund are a similar story; United are just waiting for their loanee clubs to trigger the buy option in their deals, which would be best for both parties.

These transfers would raise a significant amount, as Sky Sports has reported, £100 million is the potential fee that could be raised from these sales.

This would allow the board to reinvest in long-term solutions to positions that have needed an upgrade for a while. Players like Elliot Anderson or Sandro Tonali, who have been linked with the Reds, could arrive in the near future.