Manchester United have seven players fighting for one position next season

Ruben Amorim might have some big calls to make in the not too distant future.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, there is no doubt just how big this summer's transfer window promises to be for Manchester United.

This summer will mark head coach Ruben Amorim's first meaningful opportunity to try and make much-needed changes to the squad, with the January window earlier this year an impossible juncture to do so.

United are poised to start their summer by releasing Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Christian Eriksen. However, veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who is also out of contract this summer, could be offered a new one-year deal.

Regardless of who United choose to release at the end of the season, the departures are not expected to stop there. The Manchester Evening News reported in March that United are targeting at least 10 exits this summer.

Offloading unwanted figures and getting money in the coffers will be key to the speed of Amorim's rebuild A sizeable chunk of his budget is going to be reserved to beef up United's attacking options, with both Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap on the club's radar.

Scoring goals has been a real problem for United in the Premier League this season, with their tally of 42 only worsened by the returns of West Ham United (40), Everton (36) and the three relegated clubs.

At the other end of the pitch, United have conceded 51 times in the Premier League, meaning they have plenty of room for improvement on that front next season.

United strengthened their options at the back with three defensive signings last summer, swooping for Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro. At the time, United were playing in a back-four under former manager Erik ten Hag.

However, the mid-season appointment of Amorim meant a shift to a back-three. It meant an extra space was opened up for a centre-back in the starting XI.

Ruben Amorim immediately changed Manchester United's formation.

Despite already having Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, De Ligt, Yoro and Evans, United added young Ayden Heaven to their centre-back pool in February. United described him as a first-team signing, and his performances against the Gunners, Real Sociedad and Leicester City soon confirmed why.

Unfortunately, recent injuries have scuppered his chances of building on those promising displays, but there is no doubt he will have a key part to play next season.

Come the start of next season, Martinez should also be back in the mix after a lengthy lay-off with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. He was showing signs of adapting to Amorim's methods and a three-at-the-back formation prior to encountering his injury at the beginning of February.

With Evans and Lindelof poised to be released, United will go into the summer with five recognised centre-backs on their books in Maguire, Martinez, De Ligt, Yoro and Heaven. However, Luke Shaw and Mazraoui have demonstrated they can both operate as centre-backs despite their careers being built as full-backs.

Mazraoui, who was originally signed to challenge Diogo Dalot for the right-back berth, has been one of United's better players this season, but he is not assured of a starting place in Amorim's best XI next term. The same, too, can be said of Shaw, who is currently in the process of trying to rekindle his career after a forgettable 18 months because of injuries.

Following the capture of Patrick Dorgu earlier this year, Shaw is not at the top of the pecking order to start at left wing-back. Furthermore, valid questions have been raised about the England international's suitability for a wing-back role, meaning he looks set to have to try and save his United career as a left-sided centre-back.

Luke Shaw may have to resurrect his Manchester United career from centre-back.

Martinez and Heaven are left-footed centre-backs, meaning they will also be vying for that position. Yoro has also demonstrated he is comfortable on the left.

It means Amorim will still be left with seven defenders targeting regular starting berths in the back-three.

Of course, squad depth is crucial for any club, particularly if European football is on the calendar, but each member of United's centre-back pool will believe they are worthy of playing week-in, week-out. Keeping each of them happy will be a challenge in itself for Amorim, meaning one or two tough decisions may have to be made