JOSE MOURINHO will axe eight players as he tries to land Juventus’ Paul Pogba.
The Manchester United boss wants to work with 22 core men.
But the squad will also be trimmed with loans and sales.
A United source said: “Jose has made it clear he wants to work with 22 key players.
“It means up to eight players heading out.”
Marcos Rojo, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger are most at risk after poor seasons.
Adnan Januzaj was loaned last season and there are doubts over Memphis Depay, Daley Blind and Juan Mata’s futures.
Mourinho will go head-to-head with former club Real Madrid to try to sign Pogba.
United have already done business with the France midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola this summer for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.