Our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are still hoping for their Premier League campaign to really kick-off this season and are feeling as though the title is out of their reach.

The Red Devils are already 13 points behind Chelsea at this stage of the season and whilst there is a long way to go, there’s four other clubs in-between the two.

Jose Mourinho, then, has found it very tough in his first season at Old Trafford with the likes of Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan not being the unqualified successes many felt they’d be as yet.

There’s time for them to improve, though, whilst our landlord thinks some other fringe players may have to move out on loan in order for them to progress.

United have a typically big squad and that’s why he thinks these two players in particular should ask Jose Mourinho if they can leave temporarily in January…

 Sam Johnstone

Being behind David De Gea is fair enough but when you’re behind Sergio Romero you have to wonder where it’s gone wrong.

Johnstone evidently isn’t really good enough for Manchester United at the moment and if he wants to show that he could be it’s clear he’ll need to move away on loan and excel. Whether he does or not remains to be seen but our landlord sees it as the only way forward for the English stopper at the moment.

 Timothy Fosu-Mensah

The young defender isn’t getting much of a look-in at the moment with even Matteo Darmian being used by Manchester United in their current plight.

He should be rattling on Mourinho’s door, then, and asking for a move away where he can improve in order to force himself into the reckoning. He’s shown that he can be solid enough for the Red Devils and a temporary move would allow him to reach that crucial next level.

Agree United fans? Let us know below!