Time for Old Trafford side to trim away the deadwood.
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Having successfully secured a return to Champions League action Louis van Gaal would do well to do a big of spring cleaning during the summer transfer window.
Should the Man United boss be looking to once again spend big, and having already snapped up Dutch winger Memphis Depay in a £25m deal (Via the Guardian) the signs are that is the case, then van Gaal would be well advised to look to part fund such deals with the sale of those who the club can afford to offload.
Here are seven such examples.
Robin van Persie
The Dutch veteran has struggled with both form and fitness and with just one year left on his current contract (Via the Daily Star) this may be the last chance Man United get to cash-in on a player they paid £24m (Via the Daily Star) just under three years ago.
The former Arsenal man netted 30 goals in his debut season but hasn’t come close to reaching those heights since and despite Louis van Gaal’s strong relationship with his former national team charge it may well be time to bite the bullet and sell.
Angel di Maria
Louis van Gaal has shown a great deal of faith in both Ashley Young and Juan Mata, two players who’s careers were going nowhere under David Moyes, and the capture of Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven would appear to indicate that for the most part the Dutch boss is covered for wide-attackers.
Rafael
Now into his seventh season in the Man United first team set-up it’s patently clear that the Brazilian full-back just isn’t consistent enough a performer. Frequently out of position and prone to making criminal errors that all too often prove costly. Closing in on his 25th birthday and youth is no longer a viable excuse for his naivety.
Jonny Evans
There can have been few worse performances than the one the Northern Irishman put in during Man United’s humiliating 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to the MK Dons earlier this season and things haven’t improved all that much since. The 27 year old just isn’t a solid enough central defensive option for a club with aspirations of lifting major honours and even his worthiness as a ‘back-up’ is proving very debatable.
Javier Hernandez
A season on loan at Real Madrid, albeit one that has seen the 27 year old used in a limited capacity, should have acted as a successful shop window for the Mexican. If Louis van Gaal felt he could do without the instinctive finisher this season then there’s no reason to suggest he’d be part of the manager’s plans in 2015/16 so could be used to help balance the books this summer.
Nani
Another player who was deemed surplus to requirements by van Gaal and even though the Portuguese winger has thrived back at Sporting Lisbon the weight of numbers in wide-attacking roles suggests the 28 year old is another who could be sold when the transfer window re-opens.
Tom Cleverley
The signings of versatile Dutchman Daley Blind and cultured Spaniard Ander Herrera all but ended the midfielder’s hopes of forging a career at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal and Marouane Fellaini’s resurgence this term should be the death knell for the England international. Cleverley has done well at Villa Park and boss Tim Sherwood could well look to bring in the 25 year old in on a permanent basis.