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Inter Miami in chaos as Neville plots mass clear out with Shawcross, Higuain & Matuidi to be axed from Beckham’s side
PHIL NEVILLE is plotting a mass clear out at Inter Miami as the problems engulfing David Beckham’s club continue.
The MLS side take on fellow strugglers Toronto tonight with just five games remaining of the campaign.
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But they head into the clash in the middle of an awful six game losing streak which has left their play-off hopes hanging by a thread.
Neville, 44, was placed in charge by ex-Manchester United pal Beckham back in January and soon brought in a number of big hitters to join the already stacked ranks.
However, he has endured a miserable time in South Florida and as SunSport exclusively reported yesterday, the former England Women’s boss is already planning for next season and knows some tough decisions will have to be made.
Neville is determined to help Beckham realise his dream by launching an assault for the title next term - even if it means upsetting members of his squad.
Ex-Napoli and Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain is considering retiring at the end of the MLS season.
The 33-year-old arrived as a marquee signing in September 2020 but has scored just 11 goals in 35 games over the past two campaigns.
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He is the club’s top earner and still has 12 months left on a $5.7million-a-year (£4.1m) deal but with Neville desperate to reshape his squad, he would be happy to get him off the wage bill.
Higuain was dropped earlier this season because of fitness issues and Miami sources have told SunSport they expect the Argentine frontman to hang up his boots next month when the regular season ends.
But he could just be the first of several big hitters to depart if Neville and Inter get their way.
NOT SO SHAW
Beckham’s team were found guilty of financial irregularities following the signing of French World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi, 34, last summer that led to their transfer allocation slashed.
That left Neville and sporting director Chris Henderson desperate to get their biggest earners out of the club - starting with Higuain and Matuidi.
Under MLS rules, a club can buy out one contract per season so if Huguain quits for good, a deal could be struck to put an end to Matuidi’s less than impressive spell Stateside.
Miami’s other designated player - Mexican international Rodolfo Pizarro - wants to leave and Neville hopes a move back to his homeland can be secured within the next few weeks.
Ryan Shawcross, 34, has also struggled with injury since arriving from Stoke earlier this year and he looks set to return to England.
Meanwhile the likes of defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and striker Julian Carranza - who is on a whopping $900,000 a year despite scoring just two goals in 37 appearances - are also on the for-sale list.
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Paul Pogba and Presnel Kimpembe watch David Beckham’s Inter Miami
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