THE emergence of a crop of talented youngsters has been the only real highlight of another disappointing campaign for Manchester United.
A number of more experienced players have failed to deliver and look set for the summer scrapheap.
talkSPORT suggested the only United player to consistently stand out this season has been goalkeeper David De Gea (yet again!). We happen to think Anthony Martial has also shown great promise since arriving in the January transfer window, while Chris Smalling continues to improve and has had a solid season at the back.
talkSPORT list six players they believe should be made surplus to requirements at United; Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.
Age may not be on the side of Carrick, while Young and Valencia are also now both in their thirties so their best years are probably behind them but we think Rojo is worth hanging on to – he can play left-back or in the centre and is a useful option at least as back-up.
As far as Fellaini goes, many United fans couldn’t see the back of him quickly enough.
But some may question the inclusion of Jones, still just 24, on the list.
However, the player Sir Alex Ferguson once suggested could go on to become United’s greatest ever has failed to come on as expected. He is far too injury-prone and when he is fit, continues to make poor decisions too often and lacks composure at crucial times.
It’s unfortunate as he appeared to have the world at his feet when he arrived at Old Trafford in 2011 but he is just not reliable enough and we agree it could be time to move him on.
What do United fans think? Has Jones had more than enough time to prove himself?
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Manchester United are 13/8 (2.63) favourites to beat Liverpool in tomorrow’s Europa League 2nd leg.
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paul35mm
Mar 21, 2016 at 12:05 am
Rojo and Young still play at a high level, though with Young’s recent injury, perhaps he should go as well. All the others could be sold. The issue will be their salaries. So unless they go on a free as out of contract, Bozman transfers, none of those players are going anywhere.
Why would you, as a club or business, take Marouane Fellaini, who is a good player, at his current salary? At Everton he was probably making in the £20-30,000 per week range. At Man U, he must be at least double and perhaps triple that. None of the teams that want him can afford him and the teams that can afford him wouldn’t want him. When his contract is up, he can sign a new deal at lower wages, but to walk away from guaranteed money at Man U would be foolish.