New manager unhappy with current squad.
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New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is being tipped to axe ten members of the current first-team at Old Trafford, according to the Daily Express.
The Dutchman has been known for being something of a controversial figure throughout his career in the game, often alienating his players despite also being respected as one of the best coaches in the modern era, enjoying tremendous success at most of the teams he has managed.
After guiding the Netherlands national team to third place in this summer’s World Cup, van Gaal now looks set to make an immediate impact upon arriving at United full time, with the decision to cull ten members of the first-team squad in preparation for next season.
The Red Devils were poor for much of last season as they finished in a disastrous 7th place in the Premier League, and their new manager is seemingly unconvinced by a large selection of the personnel currently on the books.
10) Anderson
Sent out on loan to Fiorentina for the second half of last season, it is no surprise to see that Anderson doesn’t seem to have a future at United. The Brazilian made a great start to his career at the club as a youngster, but has not taken off since then and has actually gone backwards instead, becoming something of a liability in the middle of the park. With Ander Herrera already brought in and possibly more set to follow in midfield, there will surely be no room for Anderson next season.
9) Bebe
Another unsurprising name set for the chop by van Gaal is one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s biggest transfer mistakes of recent times. Portuguese forward Bebe was signed on something of a whim after the former United manager was impressed by just a few videos of him playing. Bebe has without a doubt been a spectacular flop since joining the club, spending most of his time out on loan as they have struggled to offload him to any takers on a permanent deal.
8) Nick Powell
Somewhat harshly, young attacking midfielder Nick Powell is listed as another name set for the axe this summer, despite an impressive loan spell with Championship side Wigan Athletic last season. The 20-year-old is one of the most highly regarded young players currently coming through at Old Trafford, and had been tipped to make a breakthrough in the first-team in the near future, despite plenty of competition for places. Still, van Gaal clearly doesn’t see a great deal of potential in the England youth player, and looks set to sell him in this transfer window.
7) Wilfried Zaha
A player who has really disappointed since his big-money move from Crystal Palace last summer, Wilfried Zaha is another who will not be given further opportunities to shine at United as van Gaal wields the axe. The England international has previously been tipped as a Premier League star of the future, but failed to make any impact at Old Trafford last season, or in a loan spell with Cardiff City as they were relegated at the end of last season.
6) Tom Cleverley
Having once been hailed as the next Paul Scholes after his fine performances for United’s youth academy, Tom Cleverley is now something of a laughing stock after a difficult few years. The 24-year-old has seemingly made no progress since his early performances in the club’s first-team, and simply looks well off the required standard to play for a club of United’s size, offering little in the way of creativity or goals from midfield in a side that is badly in need of some spark in that position.
5) Ashley Young
Known for more his diving and play-acting than anything else he does on the pitch in recent times, former Aston Villa star Ashley Young also looks set to be shown the door by van Gaal this summer after stealing a living for too long at Old Trafford. Apart from a decent first season at United, Young simply hasn’t done the business for the Red Devils since joining, and it is no surprise to see that his new manager does not feel he deserves any more chances to try and improve his displays.
4) Javier Hernandez
After such a blistering start to life at United, Javier Hernandez no longer looks worthy of a regular starting place in the side and is another big name set to be sold by van Gaal this summer. A number of big clubs have shown an interest in the Mexican goal-poacher, who remains highly regarded despite the goals drying up for United. With so much competition upfront, it is hard to see how Hernandez could fit in to this side, and seems an obvious choice to be sold this summer.
3) Nani
Another previous star player who has gone seriously downhill, Nani could finally leave United this summer after a highly disappointing few years, with van Gaal unlikely to put up with his inconsistent and ineffectual displays for much longer. Like Hernandez, a number of big clubs still seem to rate the Portuguese winger fairly highly, and he could still attract plenty of interest if he is put up for sale this summer, which could help the new United boss raise funds for other top transfer targets of his own.
2) Shinji Kagawa
Brought in as one of the most exciting young playmakers from the Bundesliga in 2012, Shinji Kagawa has sadly not shown his fine form from his Borussia Dortmund days at United. The Japanese international has only shown a glimpse of his fine potential in a red shirt, and does not appear to be the answer to the side’s creativity problems in midfield. Van Gaal will have signings of his own in mind to play in that position, and it is now claimed that he will look to offload Kagawa as one of ten in this major squad cull.
1) Marouane Fellaini
The club’s big signing of last summer, Marouane Fellaini has been a huge disappointment since his £27.5m deadline day move from Everton. Having starred under David Moyes at Goodison Park, the Belgian midfielder was then one of many problems for the Scot during his short-lived reign at Old Trafford, and he will surely not survive under new manager van Gaal. Despite a decent showing at this summer’s World Cup, Fellaini does not look like being given another chance to impress for the Red Devils, and will be one of several big names to be shown the door before the start of the new season.