Possible sales and signings in defence for United this summer.
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Following an unexpectedly awful season under David Moyes in 2013/14, Manchester United will need to start at the back as they look to progress under new manager Louis van Gaal this year.
A number of big names have already been linked with moves to United following the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, and while those two big names and long-time servants to the club will no doubt leave a big gap in the squad, there are also a few other current United players who aren’t really good enough or likely to survive under van Gaal.
See below for three players who could leave and three who could come in in what would be an ideal transfer market scenario for the Red Devils before the start of the new season.
Out – Chris Smalling
A surprise recent target for rivals Arsenal, Manchester United are yet to really see the best of Chris Smalling, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2010 with plenty of promise after his rapid rise from non-league football to becoming a key player at Fulham. Now 24 years old, Smalling can no longer be considered a promising player of the future, and should really be the consistent and reliable performer that the Red Devils need. Although it would be slightly unfair to judge him on the back of what proved to be a disappointing season for everyone at United under David Moyes, Smalling doesn’t appear to be a specialist at either centre-back or right-back, and it there’s no doubt the club could do better with a new signing in either of those positions to replace him. If there is genuine interest in the England international this summer, United should take the money and run.