'Get rid of them' - Wayne Rooney delivers brutal Manchester United squad verdict to Erik ten Hag

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has urged Erik ten Hag to either sell or release the vast majority of his squad ahead of next season.

United have struggled this campaign with performances below par throughout. Early exits in the Champions League and Carabao Cup have been compounded by a poor Premier League season which is likely to end with the Reds finishing seventh or eighth.

MEN Sport understands United are open to offers to all but four players this summer as they look to cut down their high wage bill. Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are all believed to be off the table for other clubs.

READ MORE: Fernandes gives United future verdict

READ MORE: Every word from Ten Hag's post-match speech

In the Sky Sports studio following the dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night, Rooney was asked to give his verdict on the United squad and he did not hold back about the moves Ten Hag and Co. should be making this summer. "You have to build the team around Bruno [Fernandes]," he said.

"He's the one player with quality, he has got fight in him. I think the young players and then... all the other players get rid of them.

"I think you keep the young players, you keep Bruno and I think it has to be a massive clear out. It has to be.

"It is not going to be in one year. I think it has got to be over the next couple of years.

"(Onana) I think he has got better. He had a shaky start to the season, but I think he has got better.

"(Defenders) For me I think [Diogo] Dalot has done well, [Harry] Maguire has had an in-and-out season. To compete they need better, they need better players to compete in this league.

"Don't get me wrong, these players are good players, and good Premier League players, but to compete with Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal, they need better players. (Marcus Rashford) We all know Marcus has the ability and capability to play at the top level.

"And we haven't seen that, I just wonder is it time for Marcus himself to go elsewhere, I don't know. I think he has to ask himself that question.

"I want him to stay and break records at this club but he needs to get his head right and get his head down and work hard and get back to the player you know he can be."