Man U

Manchester United: Who’s in and who’s out in January

By soccersweep

Posted on Sep 15, 2014

Gone

Despite an excellent performance against QPR on Sunday the new Manchester United manager will not be getting carried away with one good result.

We have heard him use the term ‘process’ on many occasions since he has been in the job and a solitary transfer window certainly did not complete that process.

January will see far less change at Manchester United but you feel that Louis still has unfinished business in the market. We assess potential ins and outs in the next window.

OUT?

Ashley Young – we feel that Louis van Gaal kept Young at Manchester United this summer because he provides options – he has been LvG’s early season utility player with injuries rife. But he too is now injured and with Rafa and Valencia on the right and Shaw and Rojo ahead of him on the left, the landscape will have changed considerably by the time he gets fit. Never quite good enough for a top Manchester United side.

Anderson – he possibly would have left before now had a permanent buyer been found. Heck even a loan move may have sufficed for Manchester United.

Fellaini – but will anyone buy him for a price which won’t make United look ridiculous? Lest we forget, they signed him for £27.5 million in summer 2013.

INS?

Kevin Strootman – the Manchester United manager is clearly a big fan and the player is at an age where he could have a huge impact at Manchester United long term. But with Carrick returning and Daley Blind having such an impressive debut the need for Strootman may not be so urgent come Christmas.

Mats Hummels – A player who is proving particularly difficult to sign and you would have thought that it would be even harder to get him in the winter window. Whilst unlikely (Arsenal, Galatasaray and Anderlecht make up their group), it’s not impossible that Dortmund could go out of The Champions League at the group stage, and this would surely be the only way that Manchester United could persuade the player to come in January. A terrible opening 3 games in Europe for Dortmund and the rumours will once more be rife.

But another central defender has to be a priority now and we see that as the most likely position that LvG will invest in come the next window.

Manchester United fans: who do you want Louis to go for next?