Nobody likes break-ups in the New Year period, right?
However, with the January transfer window on the horizon, naturally there are a lot of comings and goings next month and the conversation in the Football Transfer Tavern today has turned to who could be exiting Manchester United in the New Year.
Louis van Gaal moved to significantly strengthen his ranks in the summer and United have used more players than most other sides in their matchday squads this term.
Therefore, some squad trimming could take place next month with some high earners, outcasts and forgotten professionals surely needing to be moved on for the good of not only their career but United’s conscience also!
Still going great guns in the Premier League with the club just two points off the pace, van Gaal will be potentially earmarking some top January signings already to take advantage of this hugely open league campaign and in order to do this, shifting some of the deadwood will create extra space.
With this in mind, we’ve devised a list of five Manchester United players who Red Devils supporters need to bid goodbye to in the January transfer window.
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Click on the image below to reveal the five players Manchester United fans need to say bye to in January.
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Marouane Fellaini
While it’s true that Marouane Fellaini has fought hard to remain a part of Louis van Gaal’s plans while not being cast out as David Moyes’ mistake, we do fear for his long-term future.
As we all know, United moved to significantly strengthen their central midfield in the summer with the double capture of Bastian Schweinsteigr and Morgan Schneiderlin and with Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Andreas Pereira to call upon too, we think Fellaini won’t be gaining his regular central midfield slot back any time soon.
Of course, over the course of a season, teams need to rely on big squads and the likes of Fellaini to negotiate several fixtures, especially over the festive programme but with Fellaini being utilised as an emergency centre forward already this season, he’s nothing but a spare part in van Gaal’s overall philosophy.
Make no mistake; Fellaini is an accomplished Premier League pro displayed in abundance during his Everton spell and with sides surely going to be interested in his availability, we think United should cash in while using his funds to buy another striker or centre half.
Guillermo Varela
Remember him?
Well the Uruguayan is still knocking about at Old Trafford with no sign of David Moyes’ first ever Red Devils signing making it at Old Trafford.
Not awarded a squad number for the current campaign, Varela was made a part of the Red Devils’ squad for the Champions League but we’re not expecting to see him any time soon barring an injury crisis of huge proportions.
Appearuing 33 times on loan for Real Madrid Castilla – the reserve team of Los Blancos – last season, we think that’s Varela’s level.
We would say a move to the Championship may suit but to be honest with you, Varela is still something of an unknown quantity in England having failed to make a first team appearance so a move back to Castilla should be high on his list of priorities.
Paddy McNair – LOAN
One of the great youth success stories of last season at Old Trafford was the emergence of young Northern Irish centre half Paddy McNair who was a surprise starter against West Ham United for his debut last term amid a defensive injury crisis.
Going on to impress everybody with mature performances for his age last term, McNair is now back as a bit-part player at best when United have enough first team defenders to choose from.
Earning the inevitable senior call-up to Northern Ireland’s squad the minute he made his first team debut for United, McNair has since earned five caps for Michael O’Neill’s side.
With Northern Ireland fantastically earning a place at Euro 2016 next summer, McNair needs to be playing to get the nod ahead of both Chris Baird and Conor McLaughlin at right back or at centre back and thus we think a loan switch in January makes sense all round.
Of course, a lot will depend on whether Louis van Gaal can land another first team centre half having missed out on both Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Ramos in the summer.
Victor Valdes
Where did it all go wrong for Victor Valdes?
Having scooped 21 major honours in a glittering 12-year association with Barcelona’s first team, the Spanish international’s career has turned into something of a joke with the player currently outcast at Old Trafford.
Having lost his first team squad number of 32 from last season, Valdes has even been made to train alone this season with the player simply buying time until he can move on in January.
It was a crazy summer regarding United’s goalkeeping department in many ways with Sergio Romero looking like the only stable first team option at one point with David De Gea previously inching towards the exit door and Valdes not being trusted of course.
It’ll be interesting to see where the 33-year-old ends up next but ultimately, his United legacy will be two appearances – one cameo and one start – against both Arsenal and Hull City respectively.
Nick Powell
Like Varela, Nick Powell is another who astonishingly remains on the payroll at Old Trafford.
Brought from the famed production line at Crewe Alexandra back in 2012, Powell was at the time quite rightly billed as one of those players who was the future of English football with the forward earning his Railwaymen debut at just 16-years-old.
A Sir Alex Ferguson signing of course, he expected great things of Powell but unfortunately for the player, hamstring injuries have been the footnote of his United career with the 21-year-old also having not ripped up any trees in loan spells at Wigan Athletic and Leicester City.
In late November, Powell made his first appearance of the year playing just shy of an hour in an Under-21 fixture against Norwich City but we think it’s in the player’s best interest to build his fitness ahead of a new challenge.
We can’t imagine he’s in Louis van Gaal’s plans with David Moyes having come and gone in between and we think a Championship move would be the best place for Powell to rebuild his career.
