How Manchester United perform in the FA Cup and the Europa League between now and the end of the season could determine what market they are shopping in this summer.

United progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a hard fought 2-1 win over Leicester City on Friday night, keeping their hopes of winning two trophies this season alive.

The Reds currently find themselves 13th in the Premier League table, 14 points shy of the top four and 12 clear of the relegation zone. As a result, the chances are their league campaign will soon fizzle out.

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United have established themselves as a cup team in recent years and in the form of the FA Cup and the Europa League they have a chance to maintain that trend. Winning either competition would salvage something from this campaign.

The added bonuses of winning the FA Cup or the Europa League are that European qualification is part of the reward. The winners of the FA Cup will secure Europa League qualification and the Europa League winners will clinch Champions League qualification.

The Champions League is, of course, the most lucrative club competition in football and the financial benefits that come with it are game-changing.

United currently find themselves in a position where they are having to watch their every step to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. They had to cut their cloth in January and that was reflected by letting the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony head out on loan.

In the event of financial issues once again being a roadblock for United this summer, they may have to consider looking at the free agent market. United have turned to that method of recruitment in the past, signing Christian Eriksen in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer.

United could find themselves doing the same this summer, regardless of whether they can offer Champions League football in their sales pitch or not. That is because Lille duo Angel Gomes and Jonathan David are out-of-contract at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy at the end of this season and are yet to sign new deals.

David is currently poised to become the headline free agent this summer. He has scored 104 goals in 218 games since joining Lille from Belgian side Gent in 2020 and has already scored 20 goals for the third season running this term.

His profile, which features a deadly eye for goal and blistering pace, makes him an attractive option for a plethora of clubs ahead of the summer. It is not very often a striker of his capabilities may be available for free.

United desperately need to sign an established striker this summer after they gambled away north of £100million on two unproven attackers in Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in back-to-back summer windows. David, despite only recently turning 25, has a proven pedigree in front goal, scoring 72 goals for Lille since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Of course, David's impressive return in front of goal means that a lot of clubs will be monitoring his situation, many of whom who will be strongly fancied to play in the Champions League next term. United's only hope of achieving that ambition is by winning the Europa League.

Gomes, too, is also likely to attract interest from a wealth of clubs. The midfielder, who left United in 2020 after turning down a new contract, could soon be available without the need for a transfer fee, and he is another prospective signing who would make sense for United.

United are likely to say farewell to Eriksen when his contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he will need replacing to bolster the numbers in midfield. Casemiro is also highly likely to be moved on.

Gomes, 24, has enjoyed an impressive rise since leaving Old Trafford almost five years ago, and was handed his senior debut for England earlier this season. He would bring an element of control to United's midfield with his passing range and nimble movement.

United need to replace Eriksen and Casemiro, who will both turn 33 this month, with younger operators and Gomes is almost ten year their junior. Ineos have taken a liking to younger players and the England ace would fit that profile.

After years of overspending and making catastrophic errors on the recruitment front, United could strengthen two key positions this summer without having to fork out a transfer fee.