It’s likely to be a busy period of transfers at Old Trafford.
The appointment of Louis van Gaal as manager of Manchester United is set to shake things up at Old Trafford as they real from their worst ever Premier League points tally and no Champions League football for next season.
Van Gaal is a hugely experienced figure in Europe – having had success with Ajax, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich – and the 62-year-old is expected to stamp his own mark on the Red Devils squad.
A number of areas need addressing after their poor showing in 2013/14 and here are five players we expect to leave United and five to be bought in.
Players out:
Tom Cleverley
The midfielder claimed he was a scapegoat for the poor form of the club and whilst that may be true to a certain extent, the 24-year-old provides almost nothing in midfield.
Cleverley’s endless desire to pass the ball sideways or backwards frustrated the fans to breaking point and the Englishman is too old to be considered a prospect for the future.
Source: Guardian.
Rio Ferdinand
After 12 years at the Theatre of Dreams Ferdinand has announced he is leaving the club this summer, with chief executive Ed Woodward deciding not to offer the 35-year-old a new contract.
With the centre-back showing signs of age throughout last term this isn’t a totally unexpected decision, but where his future lies now remains unknown.
Javier Hernandez
A real poacher of a striker the Mexican’s goalscoring record of 59 strikes in 152 games isn’t bad, but unfortunately he brings little else to the role and Hernandez himself is frustrated at a lack of first team opportunities.
The 25-year-old has fallen behind Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and now Danny Welbeck for a place in the starting XI and both parties would probably be open to the sale.
Source: Mirror.
Nani
One area where the team needs recruitment – but actually already has a number of players – is in attacking midfield, where the lack of creativity last campaign was alarming.
As a result a cull is expected and Nani appears to be the first on the list, with the Portugal international being largely ineffective over the past 12 months.
Source: Sky Sports.
Nemanja Vidic
Finally the club captain, like Ferdinand, has decided to leave Old Trafford this summer when his contract expires, bringing to an end eight-and-a-half years of success with the team.
Vidic has agreed to join Inter Milan and with both the Serbian and his central defensive partner leaving, that is a key area for recruitment.
Players in:
William Carvalho, Sporting Lisbon
With Cleverley expected to be on his way, support is needed in central midfield to try and encourage the remaining trio of Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Darren Fletcher to up their game as well.
Carvalho was being scouted by United back when David Moyes was still in charge and the 22-year-old is a highly coveted player after an impressive 12 months with Sporting.
Source: Manchester Evening News.
Ezequiel Garay, Benfica
Sticking in the Primeira Liga and a player who helped Benfica break FC Porto’s hold on the Portuguese title in 2013/14 and also was part of the team that reached its second successive Europa League final.
However, Garay is keen to branch out and has admitted that he would be tempted into a move away from the Estadio da Luz if the price was right.
Source: Sky Sports.
Yevhen Konoplyanka, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Despite having been linked with Tottenham Hotspur in the past and almost completing a £12m move to Liverpool in January, Konoplyanka has now emerged as a transfer target for the Red Devils.
The 24-year-old is a Ukraine international who can operate on either flank and would fit into van Gaal’s ideology of utilising wingers.
Source: Mirror.
Luke Shaw, Southampton
This is the transfer rumour that has perhaps been rumbling on for the longest, with an initial £27m bid for the Saints starlet rejected – although an improved £30m offer is expected.
Shaw is still just 18-years-old and yet replaced Chelsea’s Ashley Cole in the England squad for the 2014 World Cup and plays with a maturity beyond his years.
Source: Mirror.
Kevin Strootman
Finally it’s a Netherlands international who has worked with van Gaal for the past two years in the national team and has also been impressing at PSV Eindhoven and now AS Roma.
However, despite his strong start to life in Italy Strootman has since injured the cruciate ligament in his knee and therefore will be out of action until December.
Source: Manchester Evening News.
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