Three first-teamers to make way for world class midfield star.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal could be set to make the decision to axe three key members of the first-team at Old Trafford to help fund a mammoth £60m move for Juventus starlet Paul Pogba, CaughtOffside understands.
The new United boss has recently been quoted this sizeable asking price for the in-demand 21-year-old, who has established himself as one of the most promising players in world football since leaving Old Trafford just two years ago for a free transfer to Juventus, having failed to break into the first-team under then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Juve had hoped to deter all major suitors in Pogba by slapping this big price tag on his head, with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also pursuing his signature this summer, but it has now emerged that United are ready to go all out to land this top talent by allowing three senior players to be put up for sale in this transfer window, including one surprise inclusion.
Find out who Man Utd could look to sell on the next three pages:
3) Marouane Fellaini (£15m)
Recent reports suggest that last summer’s major signing from Everton, Marouane Fellaini, could already be heading for the Old Trafford exit after a highly disappointing first season with the club. The Belgian international had been one of former manager David Moyes’ top transfer targets for some time as he was desperate to raid his old club to bring him to United, but the £28m signing flopped spectacularly, making just 21 appearances in all competitions and failing to register a single goal. The 26-year-old could now leave for almost half of what the Red Devils paid for him, with a £15m asking price seemingly being agreed by the club.
2) Shinji Kagawa (£17m)
Another player who has seemingly run out of time to prove himself at United, Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa is not in Louis van Gaal’s plans for next season and could leave if the club receive offers of around £17m. The 25-year-old had been one of the finest players in the Bundesliga during his time with Borussia Dortmund, prompting United to sign him back in 2012. Kagawa remains highly regarded by Dortmund’s fans and by several other big clubs around Europe, and could still have plenty of suitors this summer, despite his struggles to adapt to life in the Premier League.
1) Wayne Rooney (£28m)
Finally, van Gaal may also be set to make the controversial decision to offload long-serving United striker Wayne Rooney. With the Dutch tactician likely to build his team around his fellow countryman and star forward Robin van Persie, there may not be a role for Rooney at Old Trafford next season, and the club will now hope that his big-name reputation can still see them pocket a good transfer fee from his sale. United will look to recoup around £28m for the England international, who was linked with the likes of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain for much of last summer.
With a top class midfield signing clearly a priority for United at present, the departures of these players to help ensure the return of Pogba to the club, van Gaal looks like conducting good business in his first season with the Premier League giants.