Evolution or revolution? This is the dilemma that will be stalking the mind of Manchester United manager David Moyes as he considers the future of the club’s most influential and loyal servants in the coming months.

The winds of change have swept across Old Trafford in recent times, both in the boardroom and the coaching department, yet barely a breeze has been registered in the make-up of the playing staff.

Aside from the predictable addition of Marouane Fellaini, Moyes has been minding Sir Alex Ferguson’s shop. Moyes fell back on Ferguson’s most trusted lieutenants to coax him through a hail-mary set of opening fixtures, with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick assigned to start against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League.

United faltered, dropping eight points, losing twice and scoring just once – in the 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. The contracts of those four players, along with the deals of Ryan Giggs and Fabio, are all set to expire at the end of this season.

These are major players – and major personalities – facing uncertain times at Old Trafford. All six started the Champions League final against Barcelona two years ago. It is understood that Fabio is the one in the gravest danger of being released and the Brazilian admitted as much earlier this month, having made just one appearance so far this season.

‘I think the time has come,’ the 23-year-old said. ‘Maybe in the next window or even next season,

I think I might leave.’ With Moyes having observed his new side toil to the club’s worst start to a Premier League season in over 20 years, there may be the temptation to dismantle the squad he inherited.

Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra and Carrick are the wrong side of 30. Giggs will be 40 in a month’s time. It is Ferdinand, 35 in a fortnight, who should be the most twitchy, having endured a sloppy opening to the season. He switched off for Daniel Sturridge’s only goal in the defeat at Anfield. He was twisted inside out by Sergio Aguero at the Etihad. He was nutmegged by Morgan Amalfitano for the Frenchman’s breathtaking solo goal as West Brom won at Old Trafford. He has been absent with injury since.

Captain Vidic, too, has not been without flaws, overpowered by Alvaro Negredo before gifting goals to Shakhtar Donetsk and Sunderland after loose touches in his own penalty area.

It would be some statement from Moyes to dispense with the greatest defensive partnership that English football has seen this side of the millennium.

Vice-captain Patrice Evra should be concerned, after United spent the summer chasing Leighton Baines and making a late dash for Fabio Coentrao. Such a public pursuit must have awakened doubts in the Frenchman’s mind as to the new manager’s trust in his abilities.

Indeed, Sportsmail understands that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has since admitted to a fans’ forum that the Everton full back was Moyes’ No 1 target this summer.

Evra, 32, suggested last week on French television that he may leave Old Trafford for ‘personal reasons’, although he has since reaffirmed his commitment, insisting that he ‘loves the club’. United are expected to return for Baines in January and will also step up their efforts to sign Southampton’s Luke Shaw. Monaco and PSG are ready to pounce if Evra’s future is seen to be elsewhere.

The next step for Giggs, United’s Peter Pan, will also be up for discussion. A United coach (not Giggs) confided in Sportsmail last week that the Welshman remains the best performer in training and one of the fittest in the group.

Having assumed a quasi-coaching role this season, the logical next step would be retirement. But Giggs so often defies logic and on the evidence of an excellent performance in the win over Real Sociedad you would not rule out another season.

Should the contracts of Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra and Giggs not be renewed, that would be 29 Premier League winners’ medals and 10 Champions League medals lost from the United dressing room. Can United really allow such experience to be tossed overboard?

Less uncertainty surrounds the future of Michael Carrick, who despite a slow start to the season, is fully expected to agree new terms. The only question mark that remains is whether the extension will be a one-year or two-year deal.

Aside from Fabio, none of these deals represent a lack of faith in the players involved, with United adopting a policy that players over the age of 30 will only be granted one-year contracts. It forces senior players to maintain a high level and retain their hunger. Under Ferguson, in most cases, the deals were extended. It remains to be seen whether Moyes will show such dependency on his senior citizens.

A little more odd, however, is that United have allowed the contracts of several middle-aged players – in football terms – to run down with just over eighteen months remaining on their existing deals.

The biggest concern surrounds Wayne Rooney, who is now 28 and in exceptional form yet United risk going into next summer in a precarious situation.

Sportsmail understands that the forward is yet to be approached by United officials over a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2015. As things stand, United would be vulnerable to cut-price offers from interested parties, including Chelsea and Arsenal, who could look to capitalise on United’s negligence if Rooney’s deal has just a year to run.

Following last summer’s flirtation with Chelsea and the alleged transfer request – that Ferguson once again emphasised in his book – United are prepared to play a waiting game with Rooney and the Old Trafford club want the striker to express a willingness to enter into talks.

Moyes refused to divulge information about negotiations in his Friday press conference but it is understood that United are relaxed about the situation, yet fans are wary that Rooney has so far resisted all opportunities to pledge his unequivocal commitment to a future at Manchester United, even if he admits to ‘a new lease of life’ under the new manager.

It is intriguing that, from the 2011 final defeat against Barcelona, the contracts of eight of the starting XI will run out by the end of next season.

The team that evening: Van Der Sar, Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney and Hernandez. Albeit unlikely, it is not impossible that the majority of that team will no longer be with United in 20 months’ time.

Van Der Sar and Park Ji-sung have long since departed, while uncertainty hovers over the future of the remaining players, with Antonio Valencia’s contract also set to expire at the end of next season while Javier Hernandez has admitted that he would like ‘more opportunities to showcase what [I] can do’, although it is believed that he is eager to stay at the club.

The futures of Tom Cleverley and Anderson must also be resolved before the summer of 2015, while Darren Fletcher’s long-standing battle against illness places his United career into question.

Ashley Young – who has not started a game since the Manchester derby defeat and was recently fielded in a reserve game at Barnsley – may also be fighting for his United career, while Shinji Kagawa is yet to truly shine in English football.

There is an awful lot for Moyes to consider. Perhaps Ferguson saw it coming. Perhaps he knew it would be harder than ever against revitalised opponents and a squad whose spine is being caught up by Father Time.

Brendan Rodgers’ suggestion that United require 10 new players represented something of a bristling retort to the jibes of Ferguson but he did have a point.

Half that number may be more accurate. A new centre half, a left back, two central midfielders of world standing and a consistent winger should be high on the agenda.

It is certain that Moyes does need new some players. His players.

But he would do well to tie down some of Fergie’s pretty sharpish, too.

— daily Mail