The players Manchester United should sell
They cleared out 15 players during the summer.
According to The Guardian yesterday, manager Louis van Gaal is set to offload more dead wood at Manchester United come end of the season.
The Dutchman has been under scrutiny recently, especially after they failed to get a single shot on target in last Sunday's 1-0 home loss to Southampton.
Despite spending a whopping £150 million ($304m) since he took over, United have collected the same number of points at this stage during David Moyes' disastrous tenure last term.
The pressure is building on van Gaal, who has shown in his career that he is not afraid to wield the axe.
So who should he let go, and who should he sign in the summer?
LET THEM GO
ANDERSON
His name will surely top van Gaal's to-go list.
The £26m man was once described as "better than Wayne Rooney", but he is languishing in the wilderness at Old Trafford.
The Brazil midfielder hasn't played since last August, although he made a surprise return to the first team as a bench-warmer against Yeovil in an FA Cup third-round clash about two weeks ago.
Finding takers will be a problem but, surely, the 26-year-old ought to be put out of his misery.
Just pay up his contract and spare each other further embarrassment.
CHRIS SMALLING
He arrived at Man United as a bright prospect.
He went on to make his England debut at the age of 21.
But, five years since his move from Fulham, Chris Smalling still hasn't blossomed into anything like the dependable England defender he was touted to be.
He has been used in 12 league games this season, but it had more to do with United's injury crisis than his reliability.
Only 25, he can still fetch a decent price in the transfer market.
DARREN FLETCHER
One of Sir Alex Ferguson's favourites, Fletcher is no longer the force he once was.
The 30-year-old midfielder's influence is waning and he will be out of contract this summer.
There will be suitors who value his experience, West Bromwich Albion being one of them.
He's definitely still good enough for the Premier League, but just not for United.
ANDERS LINDEGAARD
The death knell has sounded on the United career of Lindegaard, 30.
The signing of former Barcelona custodian Victor Valdes as back-up to David de Gea has effectively sealed Lindegaard's departure.
Considering that he was one of the better deputies around, there will be Premiership clubs who want him to provide stiff competition in the shot-stopping department.
But the Danish custodian may need to return to the Scandinavian leagues for regular football.
ADNAN JANUZAJ
During Moyes' troubled reign, he was arguably United's brightest spark.
These days, he appears to be trying too hard to prove himself in a heavily reinforced United team.
Only 19, the winger cannot be written off just yet.
His performances last season demonstrated what he is capable of.
But he needs to play more regularly, and United can't promise him that.
A loan move should do him some good.
RADAMEL FALCAO
Come end of this term, there are bound to be casualties up front in United's top-heavy squad.
Falcao looks like the perfect fall guy.
His niggling injuries refuse to go away. His form hasn't picked up.
And he's not getting many chances to prove himself.
He wasn't even in the 18-man squad who lost 1-0 to Southampton last Sunday.
Three goals in just under 650 minutes of Premiership football don't represent a horrible return, considering five of his 12 league appearances came off the bench.
But the £6m season-long loan, and the £40m required to activate a buy-out clause, will further discourage United's decision-makers.
BRING THEM IN
NATHANIEL CLYNE
The Southampton right back is part of the Premiership's meanest defence. He packs a better all-round game than Rafael da Silva, who is excellent going forward but suspect at the back.
MATS HUMMELS
One of the most complete defenders in the world, Hummels is the sort of world-class defender whom United sorely lack. United's backline still look a complete mess, even when van Gaal has everyone at his disposal. The German looks like an instant solution.
PAUL POGBA
The one whom United let go, and can very much do with now. Pretty much similar to Chelsea's case with Nemanja Matic. And Pogba can prove to be just as solid in the centre of the park.
GARETH BALE
Do United really need another attacking player? But if they can afford it, and Bale becomes available, then no club should be saying no to someone like Bale. Just as long as they do not neglect to bring in defensive reinforcements.
KEVIN STROOTMAN
He was one of van Gaal's favourites during his stint as Holland coach. United need a world-class playmaker. Strootman needs a bigger club than Roma. They make the perfect match.
RAPHAEL VARANE
A long-time target for United, the Frenchman is one of the most promising defenders in the world. He has youth on his side - he's just 21. But what United need now are experienced heads to lead the backline.
"He said ‘your time will come’, but it never did. It didn’t come. But it does not mean I will speak ill of Manchester United. I love the club."
— Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, on being impatient when Alex Ferguson wanted to blood him in slowly. Is he hinting of a return?
Agent hints at Falcao exit
Radamel Falcao's agent Jorge Mendes admits the striker's future may lie away from Manchester United.
Falcao (photo) is on a season-long loan deal at United from Monaco, which includes the option for the Premier League side to buy the Colombian.
But United might not take up the option, as the 28-year-old has scored only three times in an injury-affected campaign and was left out of the squad for last Sunday's 1-0 home loss to Southampton.
"The truth is, right now we don't know what will happen," Mendes told Sky Italia.
"What we do know is that he will play in one of the very best clubs in the world next season, whether they are Manchester United or not.
"I am 100 per cent sure of that. But you know how football works, we need to wait a little. We'll see what happens."
LEFT OUT
Reports have suggested Falcao was shocked by United boss Louis van Gaal's decision to omit him from the 18-man match-day squad against Southampton, a call the manager said was tactical.
Van Gaal also stressed after Sunday's game that Falcao had started the previous five fixtures and that the next match would be "another moment" in terms of selection.
Mendes added: "He (Falcao) is a fantastic player, and I think it's very difficult for Manchester United fans.
"They have an absolutely brilliant player, one of the very best in the world, who would without any doubt play 90 minutes of the match, every time, with any other club."
Falcao's future at Old Trafford appears to be in doubt, but one player who is definitely one of the first to be picked if he's fit is Angel di Maria.
The Argentina forward yesterday urged fans to forget about the old United style as van Gaal is creating something new.
He said: "We're beginning something new here. We've got a new style, we've got a new manager and we're all working hard to make sure we're putting Manchester United back where the club belong." - PA Sport.
'Real don't need de Gea'
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has suggested the Spanish giants have no need to sign Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
De Gea has been linked with a move back to his homeland with Real, while the Red Devils have this month brought in another high-profile shot stopper in-ex-Barcelona man Victor Valdes.
But asked if he could see Real recruiting de Gea, Calderon told talkSPORT: "I don't know, but what I do know is we already have the best goalkeeper in the world, who is Iker Casillas.
"We also have just bought Keylor Navas. I don't see any need to get any other goalkeeper.
"De Gea is perhaps also one of the top five goalkeepers in the world but Casillas can still be at the top for three or four more years.
"I don't see any need (for de Gea)."
- PA Sport.
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