Old Trafford side set for major summer squad shake-up.
This summer could well be a pivotal one in Man United’s history and one that is certainly going to be a hugely transitional one.
With incoming boss Louis van Gaal sure to ring the changes the Daily Telegraph reports on a huge swathe of the Old Trafford squad who could be on their way at the end of the current campaign.
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Clearly David Moyes deserves a huge portion of the blame after a disastrous season that has seen the club fail to secure a Champions League berth but it’s equally true that far too many of the Scot’s squad were found wanting and as such it seems likely that Dutchman van Gaal will look to start with something of a clean slate.
A number of veterans are set to leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season with Nemanja Vidic having already agreed a move to Inter Milan with fellow defenders Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand set to follow the Serb to the Man United exit.
Interim boss Ryan Giggs looks set to hang up his boots but could well form part of van Gaal’s coaching staff.
Back-up keeper Anders Lindegaard has barely had a look-in and young Englishman Ben Amos looks set to take over from the Dane as cover for first choice starter David de Gea.
Surprisingly England international Chris Smalling is named by this source as a potential exit bound performer but whilst there’s no denying the adaptable defender hasn’t been at his best this term it’s equally true that the 24 year old has shown he has great potential and a talent Man United would do well to keep hold of.
Dutch left-back Alexander Buttner has looked fairly decent went going forward but has been guilty of being out of position on far too regular a basis and it’s likely he will be offloaded in the summer. The fact that the 25 year old is still to receive a senior national team cap perhaps tell’s it own story.
Loaned out Brazilian Anderson will almost certainly be on his way on a permanent basis though one wonders just how much of the £20m Man United paid for the midfielder they hope to recoup.
Whilst it’s true that David Moyes regularly played Shinji Kagawa out of position this isn’t reason enough for his very average form this term and it’s no surprise that Man United would consider cashing in on the Japanese international who may well be lured back to the Bundesliga.
Often used as a scapegoat for this season’s failures Tom Cleverley can probably feel aggrieved at the level of abuse he’s suffered but nonetheless the England international has been found wanting. The midfielder flits in and out of the action and rarely does anything of note whilst also failing to halt opposition advances.
Wilfried Zaha was clearly a player David Moyes never valued and the former Crystal Palace man hasn’t done all that much during his loan spell at Cardiff City to suggest that the Scot was far wrong with his assessment of the England winger.
Just four Premier League starts this season will certainly see Mexican Javier Hernandez clambering for a move away from Man United and it may be best for all parties if the 25 year old, who is a proven goal-scorer, secures a move to a club that can offer him the first team action he deserves.
Chicharito’s return of 59 goals in 151 appearances, almost half of which were from the bench, goes some way to illustrating his quality but clearly Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie are not so easily pushed aside from the Old Trafford pecking order.
Marouane Fellaini is perhaps another victim of being played in the wrong position but if Louis van Gaal doesn’t see the Belgian as part of his plans then the £27.5m signing could well be on his way.
During his spell at Everton the powerful midfielder was used as a battering ram against opposition defences and he caused all sorts of problems but in a holding role he has looked like a fish out of water.
Wingers Ashley Young and Nani have been criminally ineffective and the emergence of Adnan Januzaj, the solid displays from Danny Welbeck and the arrival of Juan Mata has made the pair surplus to requirements and very bankable assets that Man United appear ready to cash-in on.
Loaned out forwards Federico Macheda and Bebe have impressed in their spells at Birmingham City and Paços de Ferreira respectively but it would be a major surprise if either were still contracted to Man United come the beginning of the 2014/15 season.
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