It looks set to be a hugely challenging to the League Two season for Grimsby Town.

Sitting bottom of the fourth-tier table, seven points from safety with six games to play having won just seven of their 40 league matches so far this season, the Mariners seemingly face a huge challenge to avoid relegation to the National League over the next few weeks.

Perhaps not surprisingly therefore, it seems inevitable that the summer transfer window will be a busy one at Blundell Park, when the club will be looking to either build a squad that can avoid a similar situation to this next season, or that will be able to compete for promotion back to the Football League.

That of course means that there will be a number of players who may be set to leave Grimsby in the next few months in order to make room for those new recruits, especially with a number out of contract this summer.

So here, we've taken a look at eight players we could see sold or released by Grimsby, when the transfer market reopens.

While there isn't really anyone with a particularly impressive record in front of goal for Grimsby last season, James Hanson is one who could catch the eye of a few clubs.

The striker led the Mariners' scoring charts last season with nine league goals for the club, and he does have plenty of experience in both League One and League Two, where does have a respectable goals record.

That could therefore make him an attractive option for a few clubs this summer, especially since his contract is set to expire this summer, meaning he could be available for nothing, which is an obvious source of temptation for clubs in this financial climate, potentially making it hard for Grimsby to retain his services.

Despite the struggles of the senior side this season, it is still possible that Grimsby could see one of their players make the move to Old Trafford with Manchester United this summer.

That's thanks to the form of 16-year-old midfielder Ben Grist, who is still yet to make his senior debut for the club, but has never the less reportedly attracted attention from Premier League giants Liverpool and Chelsea in the past thanks to his performances at youth level.

Recent reports however, have claimed that it is now United who look set to win the race for Grist's signature, and the financial boost Grimsby could receive for this deal would no doubt be welcome in the current climate.

Grimsby recently saw 18-year-old Joey Hope leaved the club less than a year after signing a professional contract with the club, and speaking in the wake of that departure, manager Paul Hurst admitted that other young players could be moved on from the club.

That could mean that one player who may soon find his future at Blundell Park under some scrutiny, is Joseph Starbuck, who has so far made a total of nine appearances in all competitions for the Marines, since stepping up to their senior side last season.

The 18-year-old midfielder is however, out of contract with Grimsby at the end of this season, meaning there is a possibility that he fits the criteria when it comes to the club deciding which of their young players to move on.

Another individual who could potentially find himself in a similar position to Starbuck should that scenario referred to by Hurst materialise, is Duncan Idehen.

The 18-year-old defender made the step up to Grimsby's senior side from academy level at the start of this season, and has since gone on to make eight appearances in all competitions across the course of the 2021/22 campaign.

However, the former Norwich and Lincoln youngster is another who is set to see his contract expire at the end of this season, meaning he too is one who may find himself facing something of an uncertain future at Blundell Park.

One player who Grimsby may now be looking to move on during the summer transfer window after recent events, is Filipe Morais.

While it was on-loan Tranmere striker Stefan Payne who was sent off for the now infamous incident with Morais during Grimsby's defeat to Bradford on Saturday, Hurst was far from happy with the midfielder for his part in the coming together between the two teammates.

As a result, it does seem as though Morais may now be facing something of an uncertain future at Blundell Park, and with his contract set to run until the end of next season, he is one player Grimsby could receive a fee for if they manage to sell him this summer.

Speaking at the start of last month, Paul Hurst insisted that Scannell would have to improve his fitness if he was to force his way back into the Grimsby side, for whom he had not featured since January.

Since then however, Scannell has failed to add to the eight league appearances for the club he had made during an injury hit first-half of the season following his summer move from League One side Blackpool.

With injuries seemingly not the reason behind his absence from the side for the past few months, it appears that Scannell may be struggling to impress behind the scenes at the club, so you wonder whether Grimsby may look to move him on this summer - with his contract running until the summer of 2022 - meaning he is one they could receive a fee for.

Having joined Grimsby from Welsh side Aberystwyth last summer, things simply have not worked for Touray Sisay at Blundell Park this season.

The striker spent a month out on loan with non-league Cleethorpes earlier in the season, and having made just one substitute appearance in the league this season, saw a loan move back to Wales with Connah's Quay Nomads fall through on the final day of the winter window, at which point Hurst admitted the 21-year-old will struggle to force his way into the Mariners side.

As a result, with his contract at Grimsby only running until the end of the current campaign, it may be difficult for Touray Sisay to secure a new deal with the club, given it looks unlikely he will get the chance to show what he can do.

One player who has been a more regular feature Grimsby in recent times, but who may still face an uncertain future at the club, is Matt Green.

Having joined the Mariners from Salford City back in the summer of 2019, the striker has gone on to score just six goals in 62 appearances in all competitions for the club, a somewhat underwhelming return for someone in his position.

As a result, with the 34-year-old's contract set to expire at the end of this season, you wonder whether the Mariners may be tempted to move him this summer, in order to help make room in the squad for potential new arrivals.