Old Trafford first teamers who should be offloaded and top quality additions Sir Alex Ferguson should consider making.
OUT
Ashley Young
Since moving to Old Trafford it would be fair to say that the England international has struggled to impress on a regular basis and has been remarkably ineffective this season.
The 27 year old has managed just three assists and not a single goal in Premier League action this term and this may well have led to Sir Alex Ferguson’s willingness to spend big to land Crystal Palace youngster Wilfried Zaha.
The former Aston Villa winger cost Man United £17m 18 months ago and is still by no means a first team regular and Ferguson’s push to bring in wide attackers who can create chances and share the club’s goal-scoring burden may well mean Young is sacrificed.
IN
James Rodgriguez (FC Porto)
The impressive young Colombian has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford and this summer could be the time to make such a deal come to fruition.
Rodriguez helped his side to back to back domestic titles in his first two seasons at the Estadio Dragao, as well as a Europa League triumph, and has risen the bar further during the current campaign.
The youngster is one of the Primeira Liga’s top goalscorers and assist-makers to boot and is a player who has worked incredibly well with compatriot Radamel Falcao at national team level.
OUT
Anderson
The Brazilian midfielder has stated publicly that he has attempted to leave Man United on a number of occasions and that revelation may well aid his move towards a Man United exit. Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t a fan of those who ‘rock the boat’ and judged solely on playing terms there is little reason to keep the 24 year old bit-part player at the club.
Anderson has failed to make an impact at Man United following his £20m move from FC Porto in the summer of 2007. The battling midfielder has racked up 161 appearances, of which 45 were from the bench.
IN
Isco (Valencia)
A move for the young Spaniard would adhere to Sir Alex Ferguson’s youthful transfer policy as well as giving his Man United midfield the freshening up is so badly requires.
Malaga have placed a £30m release clause in Isco’s current contract and may indeed accept a reduced bid given their financial concerns, especially as the La Rosaleda side have been banned from European competition for next term.
The Malaga man has scored ten goals in all competitions this season and has been impressive in the club’s Champions League run.
OUT
Anders Lindegaard
Growing talk of David de Gea’s future has in many ways let the Danish keeper off the hook. Of the two keepers it is Lindegaard who has lost the fight for Man United’s starting spot and has dropped far more clangers than his Spanish team-mate this season.
If Sir Alex Ferguson is to bring in an experienced keeper to help add strength in depth between the sticks then the Scot should look to offload the 28 year old.
In the eleven games in all competitions that Lindegaard has started this season Man United have lost five, that says it all.
IN
Victor Valdes (Barcelona)
Experienced Barcelona keeper has stated his intention to leave the Nou Camp and with a contract set to end in the summer of 2014 it is likely that Catalan side will look to sell the 31 year old at the end of the current campaign to avoid losing such a talent on a free transfer.
Valdes may well jump at the chance of a move to Man United and he may fancy his chances of securing the starting spot at Old Trafford.
Victor Valdes is into his eleventh season at the club and has made 487 first team appearances and collected five La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.
OUT
Rio Ferdinand
On occasion the veteran centre-back has looked out of his depth this term and with no new deal agreed the 34 year old could leave Man United this summer and perhaps the time is right for Sir Alex Ferguson to allow the defender to leave Old Trafford.
Though Ferdinand has served Man United well during his decade plus at the club he is only playing such a pivotal role this term due to injuries and poor form shown by others in the squad.
Ferguson may feel the option to allow Ferdinand to look for a new club on a free transfer is a way of rewarding the player for his sterling service.
IN
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Sir Alex Ferguson has seen his side concede far too many goals this term, 31 goals in 26 Premier League fixtures, and a move for 24 year old Hummels would be a sound, if expensive, one to consider.
Interest in Hummels is apparently aligned with the possibility that Rio Ferdinand will be leaving Man United in the summer.
The former Bayern Munich man is into his sixth season at the Westfalenstadion side and having won the Bundesliga in both of the last two campaigns the very real possibility that his former Bavarian employers are likely to steal that crown may act as a catalyst for a possible exit from Jurgen Klopp’s side this summer.
OUT
Nani
The Portuguese winger impressed last night after coming on as sub against Reading but the 26 year old is still seemingly surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
Nani is unlikely to be happy about playing such a limited role at Man United, only five Premier League starts this season, and should a decent offer come in for the winger then it’s likely Ferguson will accept, especially given he has new signing Wilfried Zaha to bed in.
At some points during his time at Man United Nani has appeared set to come out of Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow, being particularly effective in the 2010/11 season but he has fallen out of favour with Sir Alex Ferguson since being dropped from that season’s Champions League final starting eleven against Barcelona.
IN
Christian Eriksen (Ajax)
Ferguson is increasingly looking to the future and with members of his old guard moving nearer to retirement, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs seemingly at the latter stages of their glittering careers, the Man United boss is clearly keen to strengthen for the long term.
With this in mind a move for the Danish international would be a wise one to consider.
Eriksen helped Ajax to back to back Eredivisie titles and may feel he has achieved as much as he can at the Amsterdam Arena and has watched team-mates like Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen leave for the Premier League and may well be tempted to do likewise.