We may only be five days away from the official closing of the summer transfer window but there’s still plenty of business to be done in the Premier League. Chelsea appear hell-bent on acquiring Everton’s John Stones and Juventus star Paul Pogba, for example, whilst Arsenal fans are desperate for Arsene Wenger to sign a new striker.
Of course, we all prefer the glamour of a multi-million new arrival of the Memphis Depay variety but a number of Premier League managers will be looking to offload some of their deadwood too before the summer window slams shut at 6pm on September 1st.
So with that in mind, Football Fancast have decided to take a look at FIVE Manchester United stars who might be set for a last-minute exit from Old Trafford.
Will Louis van Gaal be issuing some of these FIVE their marching orders before the summer window closes next Tuesday?
DAVID DE GEA
At the end of last season, David De Gea’s move to Real Madrid seemed set in stone. But three games into the new Premier League campaign and he’s still a Manchester United player – albeit one barred from first team action by Louis van Gaal.
The concern is that the Red Devils may not have very long at all to find a replacement for their PFA Player of the Year nominee, with the Spaniard by no means the only goalie expected to head out of Old Trafford before September 1st – more on that later.
But with just a year remaining on his contract, United don’t have much of a choice if the right offer comes along. And according to reports from The Daily Mail this morning, Real Madrid are about to make a final take-it-or-leave-it £33million bid.
It’s likely the Red Devils will accept. After all, that sum would make De Gea the most expensive goalkeeper of all time – not bad considering United have already kept two Premier League clean sheets without him this season.
VICTOR VALDES
Another supremely talented Spanish goalkeeper heading out of the Old Trafford exit door. The Red Devils snapped up Victor Valdes on a free transfer only last January but he’s already fallen afoul of Louis van Gaal, who revealed in July his intentions to sell the former Barcelona No.1 after refusing to play for the U21 squad.
As a consequence, the 33 year-old has been a regular figure in the Old Trafford stands this season, often sitting alongside David De Gea and Andreas Lindegaard.
But it appears Valdes has finally been offered an escape route from his torrid time at Carrington; according to The Guardian, he’s set to join Besiktas on a free transfer.
JESSE LINGARD
Many suspect a cameo role for Jesse Lingard at Manchester United this season after impressing for the England U21s at the European Championship and for the Red Devils during their pre-season tour of the USA.
That still might be the case; after all, Bristol City’s rumoured £2.5million bid for the winger-forward earlier this month appeared to fall on deaf ears at Carrington and he signed a contract extension until 2018 just a matter of months ago.
But Lingard is yet to make it onto a United bench this season and there are plenty more clubs willing to take the 22 year-old off the Red Devils’ hands. Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is apparently interested, for example, having been impressed with his performances on loan at Derby County last season.
Resultantly, a loan move for the season is certainly plausible – especially considering United already have more than enough youth in the attacking third through Adnan Januzaj and £30million signing Memphis Depay.
JAVIER HERNANDEZ
It seemed Manchester United’s abundant lack of striking options would allow Javier Hernandez a stay of execution at Old Trafford until his contract expired next summer, with Louis van Gaal hinting in the off-season that the Mexico international would be given another chance in the United squad following his occasionally spectacular if rather inconsistent loan spell at Real Madrid last season.
That was until yesterday evening and a frankly horrendous performance against FC Brugge in the Champions League play-off. Chicarito not only missed a five-yard sitter but also slipped when trying to take a penalty and ultimately missed, leading to a rather telling glance between van Gaal and assistant Ryan Giggs.
It seems the 26 year-old is still at Old Trafford due to necessity rather than any fondness on the Iron Tulip’s part, and last night’s performance may have just convinced him that it’s time to sell.
Hernandez has plenty of admirers from the Premier League and yonder. Tottenham and West Ham have both been linked with him throughout the summer and are still searching for added striking options, so they could launch late bids.
Leaving only Wayne Rooney and James Wilson behind, however, Little Pea’s departure may depend on United signing another striker first.
JONNY EVANS
Manchester United may be short of top quality at centre-half but that doesn’t appear to have improved Jonny Evans’ chances of prolonging his Old Trafford stay past the end of the transfer window.
Indeed, the Northern Ireland international managed just 14 Premier League appearances under Louis van Gaal last season – his second-worst campaign haul since becoming a United regular in 2008 – and he’s now seemingly at the bottom of a pecking order that includes Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind.
Evans’ contract entering its final twelve months only provides further incentive for van Gaal to scrap the 27 year-old and there are already quite a few interested parties.
Everton are known to be considering a move for the 6 foot 2 centre-half but speculation this morning suggests West Bromwich Albion has become a likelier destination. A ballpark figure of £10million has been mooted.