In news that hit the Football Transfer Tavern late last night, despite hearing that the bookies had suspended betting on Robin van Persie joining Fenerbahce at the weekend, they were still somewhat stunned to hear that a four-year deal now has been agreed with the Turkish side.
Signed from Arsenal in highly controversial circumstances back in 2012, his debut season of 2012/13 was the only real standout season he enjoyed at Old Trafford, claiming his very first Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson of course.
Fully expecting to spend more time under the tutorship of Sir Alex, ever since that season, the Dutchman has endured something of a steady decline with Red Devils fans having expected to get far more out of their £22.5 million signing.
Succumbing to the all too familiar problem with injuries, van Persie is walking away from the Premier League as a player who in truth, should’ve won a lot more in his time spent in England; after all, he arrived way back in 2004!
The news concerning van Persie has got our Tottenham regulars worried because with just Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez remaining as recognised first team strikers, perhaps this means United are serious in their intentions to land Harry Kane this summer.
With Carlos Bacca, Jackson Martinez and Luiz Adriano already snapped up and the likes of Mauro Icardi opting to extend his stay at Inter Milan, top class replacement strikers are in short supply this summer so United fans will be hoping that Louis van Gaal has something up his sleeve.
Before that however, we’ve listed five more Red Devils players who could end up following van Persie out of Old Trafford this summer.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 players to follow van Persie out of Manchester United this summer.
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Angel Di Maria
In short, Angel Di Maria’s debut season as a Manchester United player didn’t go to plan.
After a fast start and that remarkable goal away at Leicester City, Di Maria’s season slowly got worse with the Argentine being sent off in the disappointing FA Cup loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford before succumbing to the substitutes bench behind Ashley Young near the end of the season.
That fate says it all for a player who is still interesting Paris Saint-Germain and even Arsenal according to yesterday’s Daily Mail but we’re not believing that link for one second.
Paying an astronomical £59.7 million for his services from Real Madrid last summer, the Daily Star are claiming today that the player has already agreed a deal in principle to join PSG this transfer window.
United are reportedly willing to accept a £43 million bid for Di Maria and after all, with Memphis Depay now in the bag, perhaps United will take a loss on Di Maria and simply give up on him sooner than anticipated.
Adnan Januzaj
With this guy, a lot will depend on whether Manchester United do end up selling the aforementioned Angel Di Maria but if they continue to persist with their record signing, perhaps Adnan Januzaj could succumb to a loan move.
The Belgian international was the man on everybody’s lips last summer after enjoying a fantastic breakthrough campaign under David Moyes despite the Red Devils flattering to deceive during his tenure.
However, since sealing a place in Marc Wilmots’ Belgian squad for the 2014 World Cup, it has been relatively downhill for Januzaj who has struggled to hold down a first team place in Louis van Gaal’s plans.
Described as an in and out squad member at best last season, Januzaj often struggled to find his best form as a so-called super-sub and it appears that a loan switch in this stage of his career might do him some good.
Everton have been rumoured as a potential loan destination in the past and a decent club in the Premier League such as the Toffees seems a good fit for Januzaj on a temporary basis.
Guillermo Varela
Manchester United fans have hardly had a glimpse of Uruguayan youngster Guillermo Varela in a Red Devils shirt.
Officially David Moyes’ first signing at the club, Varela spent the entirety of last season out on loan with Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve side of the famous La Liga giants.
An energetic right back by trade, you could surmise that right now represents Varela’s best possible chance of breaking into United’s first team plans with Rafael surplus to requirements and Antonio Valencia a right winger by trade.
Still yet to make his first team debut for United, we think that opportunity will never come for Varela who will either be sold permanently this summer or alternatively, complete another loan switch.
With Manchester United also set to sign Torino’s Matteo Darmian, he will be United’s first choice right back, pushing Varela back down the pecking order once more.
Jesse Lingard
One of few England Under-21 internationals to come away from the European Championships in Czech Republic with any credit following a group stage exit under Gareth Southgate, Jesse Lingard still remains on the fringes of United’s first team.
After figuring a great deal in United’s pre-season preparations this time last summer, Lingard actually started in Louis van Gaal’s first game in charge – the 2-1 loss at home to Swansea City – but the midfielder got injured after 24 minutes and never really got a chance in the Red Devils first team ever since that day.
Undoubtedly talented, Lingard has spent four loan spells away from Old Trafford so far in his professional career, most recently at Derby County and at this stage, we can only see yet another one happening this summer.
However, this time we believe Louis van Gaal will grant Lingard a loan switch to a Premier League outfit such as a Bournemouth or a Watford where he can gain minutes in the big league as opposed to the Championship.
Jonny Evans
There is still no sign of a top quality centre back arriving at Old Trafford but we know that the Red Devils are still toiling away to get a deal done for either Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos or Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi.
With Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair already at the club and in need of guidance from a top quality reinforcement, we believe it will be Jonny Evans that exits if a Ramos or Otamendi ends up arriving.
A United first team member ever since 2006, Evans has been a loyal servant to the Red Devils racking up over 130 appearances in the Premier League but despite this milestone, United fans still don’t entirely trust him at the back.
Prone to the serious error or two, Manchester United can’t have defenders making mistakes on the regular if they want to truly challenge Chelsea for the Premier League title this term.
Aston Villa were linked with a £10 million move for Evans’ services earlier this summer and most Red Devils fans by the bar would snap your hand off to receive this figure.
