With five games of the season left, United still have a lot to play for with an FA Cup final to look forward to and Champions League qualification for next season still a possibility. The summer transfer window is fast approaching though and talk has already turned to transfer targets among fans and in the media. But who should leave the club this summer? Here we take a look at five players who could be in the final weeks of their Old Trafford careers.
Marouane Fellaini
Signed by David Moyes as a panic buy in August 2013, the Belgian has had his moments in a United shirt but has come in for criticism for his clumsy, elbow-reliant style of play. Was often deployed effectively in a more advanced position during his time at Everton but due to United’s strength in depth in attack he has often been used as a defensive midfielder, a position that prevents him from getting into the opposition box often enough to use his height to his advantage.
United have better options in midfield and attack and if another club comes in with an offer this summer they would be wise to accept and put the Fellaini era behind them as he is not a player who is going to win you titles.
Ashley Young
Arguably player of the season last year but Young’s appearances this term have been restricted by injury, during which time he’s been overtaken in the pecking order by Jesse Lingard who looks like he’s here to stay. Young was widely criticised early in his United career for going down too easily but turned in some excellent performances last season. Was overlooked for an England recall and it’s highly unlikely that he will be part of Roy Hodgson’s squad for the European Championships this summer.
At the age of 30 Young is approaching the twilight years of his career and would be better suited at a club where he is going to get regular football.
Marcos Rojo
There’s something about South American players at United, they never seem to settle and perform consistently and Rojo hasn’t shown many signs of bucking that trend. Issues with his passport last summer reportedly angered Van Gaal and it is rumoured that he was offered to Monaco as part of the Anthony Martial deal.
Has struggled for fitness this season and if Van Gaal keeps his job as manager an extension of his United career looks unlikely given the fact the club will probably sign a centre-half this summer and after the emergence of the likes of Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson this season.
Sam Johnstone
A good young goalkeeper who is unlikely to be able to ever overhaul the international calibre of David De Gea and Sergio Romero to take the number one spot. Johnstone featured on last summer’s pre-season tour and was rumoured to be in line for a start in the first game of the season against Tottenham at Old Trafford while the David De Gea to Real Madrid saga was still rumbling on.
Ultimately Van Gaal preferred the experience of Romero and Sam was consigned to the bench. Has had a couple of successful loan spells most notably at hometown club Preston North End and his agent voiced his frustration earlier in the season about his lack of opportunities at United.
Johnstone has the potential to be a Premier League goalkeeper but will most likely have to drop down to the Championship to get regular game time. One to watch for the future, sadly it probably won’t be at United.
Will Keane
Scored five for the under-21s earlier in the season in a 7-0 win over Norwich but Will Keane is another example of a young player who has struggled to make the breakthrough and stayed at Old Trafford too long. Keane made his first team debut as long ago as December 2011 but has still only managed three appearances and was forced off injured after coming on in the FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury in February.
Since then Marcus Rashford has emerged as a serious talent, James Wilson is still to come back from his loan spell at Brighton and don’t rule out United signing another striker this summer either. All this should leave Keane a considerable way down the pecking order and probably means his exit is inevitable.
At 23 he needs regular first team football and his brother Michael has done well since joining Burnley in January 2015, hopefully he will be able to do the same.