While Chris Wilder's immediate concern, in terms of his personnel, is centred around the January transfer window and adding players who could bring a little hope to their chances of staying in the Premier League, in the slightly longer term he has a lot of work ahead of him.
A large number of United players will see their current contracts come to an end when this season finishes and while it is understood that negotiations have begun with some players, there are a lot to get through before we reach June and it's fair to speculate that some who have been pivotal to United's successes in recent years may be heading off for pastures new.
Not knowing which division the club will be in muddies the waters a little but Wilder will have been all too aware of this before he decided to make his return as manager.
"If I have to bring 15 players in, then that'll be the situation," he said in December. "If I have to do it, I have to do it. There's a reason they haven't signed the contracts. They might be offered something else, there might be a situation where I think these boys can't take us forward. They understand that as players, that's what happens.
"Of course in an ideal world we wouldn't like as many out of contract but it is what it is and this is still an incredibly attractive place to come and play football."
![Davies acted as United’s back-up goalkeeper to Wes Foderingham after moving from Stoke and after the arrival of Ivo Grbic is effectively third choice. Has played 11 times in all for United and at 31 you'd imagine still has a good few years left in him yet so might be worth keeping as a back-up option](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/27/14/GettyImages-1483035956.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Adam Davies
Davies acted as United’s back-up goalkeeper to Wes Foderingham after moving from Stoke and after the arrival of Ivo Grbic is effectively third choice. Has played 11 times in all for United and at 31 you'd imagine still has a good few years left in him yet so might be worth keeping as a back-up option
![One of the many promotion heroes in United's squad nearing the end of their contracts, Baldock has reportedly agreed a three-year deal to move to Panathinaikos in Greece this summer](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlhNmFkNGE5LTNmODYtNDQ3NS05MjNlLTFhMzc3YjI1YTQzYTozY2EyN2M4NS1lNTU5LTQ3NDgtYjkyMi0xMzQwMDI5ODI3MmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. George Baldock
One of the many promotion heroes in United's squad nearing the end of their contracts, Baldock has reportedly agreed a three-year deal to move to Panathinaikos in Greece this summer Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
![Has had a season of frustration on the injury front and recently made his comeback to the first team, but it wasn't enough to convince United to retain him and he will leave this summer](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/11/02/14/GettyImages-1579318883.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Max Lowe
Has had a season of frustration on the injury front and recently made his comeback to the first team, but it wasn't enough to convince United to retain him and he will leave this summer
![A legend of the Lane currently rehabilitating after a horror injury sustained away at Fulham earlier this season. The defender turns 36 this summer when his contract runs out and has openly admitted to doubting if he will ever play top-flight football again](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/11/02/16/GettyImages-1709936199.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. Chris Basham
A legend of the Lane currently rehabilitating after a horror injury sustained away at Fulham earlier this season. The defender turns 36 this summer when his contract runs out and has openly admitted to doubting if he will ever play top-flight football again