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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United project has been on the verge of taking off for a minute now. It's not been an easy start to the new season and while the brouhaha on social media paints a crisis, the Red Devils are far from being defunct.
Solskjaer's Manchester United squad rebuild is in its final phase
When Solskjaer took over as Manchester United manager halfway through the 2018-19 season, he inherited an ageing squad with far too much deadwood. In two and a half seasons, the Manchester United manager has done a great job at cleansing the club.
He has been able to do that whilst guiding his side to third and second-placed finishes in his two full seasons at the club and qualifying for the Champions League.
But there are still a few areas that warrant improvement. An excellent technician in defensive midfield ought to be a priority. To raise funds for a world-class signing in midfield, Manchester United need to sell. There are still quite a few players in the squad who could be done with in order to furnish funds for future transfers.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five Manchester United stars who could leave in the upcoming January transfer window.
#5 Phil Jones
Phil Jones was named in Manchester United's matchday squad for the Carabao Cup match against West Ham in September. It was the first time in 19 months that Jones was cleared to play a match. He has been absent ever since though and it sadly looks like his Manchester United career is coming to a close.
Jones has intermittently proven to be a reliable presence at the back, although he is not without his shortcomings. The 29-year-old's persistent knee injury has seen him fall down the pecking order and he is currently the fifth-choice centre-back at the club.
Jones would like to stay in England but it remains to be seen whether clubs will want to invest in a player who is so prone to injuries. But there's no doubt that the Red Devils will be open to hearing offers for him in January as they really don't have much use for him anymore.
#4 Diogo Dalot
Manchester United were extensively linked with Kieran Trippier this past summer. The absence of a proper backup for Aaron Wan-Bissaka is cause for concern for Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are crying out loud for a more attacking option at right-back who can alternate with Wan-Bissaka.
While the young Englishman is excellent in a defensive sense, he has to improve his attacking output. Meanwhile, Dalot is pretty reliable in attack but his defensive abilities are quite suspect.
The Portuguese international had a rather impressive loan spell at AC Milan last season. He scored two goals and provided three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions for the Rossoneri last term.
Dalot can thrive in a league where the action is not as high-octane and end-to-end as it can get so often in the Premier League. Manchester United could also use the proceeds from Dalot's sale to perhaps rope in one of Max Aarons or Kieran Trippier.
#3 Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard proved his worth in a short but spectacular loan spell for West Ham United in the second half of the 2020-21 season. He played a starring role as the Hammers finished sixth in the Premier League table and qualified for the UEFA Europa League
The 28-year-old scored nine goals and provided four assists in 16 Premier League appearances for West Ham last term. Understandably, they wanted to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer. However, Solskjaer did not want to let him leave and Lingard has partly repaid the manager's faith in him so far this season.
Even though he has largely been used as a substitute, he has made an impact. He has two goals and an assist to his name from six appearances and he started only one of those games. He does have a place in the United squad.
However, the issue with Lingard is that his current contract is set to expire next summer. If he doesn't sign a new deal before January, Manchester United will be ready to sell him and Newcastle United and West Ham United are waiting to swoop in.
#2 Anthony Martial
There was a feeling at the start of the season that Anthony Martial had officially embarked on last chance lane. He has performed well too sporadically and he seems to be suffering from a severe lack of conviction, which is in stark contrast to his early days at Old Trafford.
Martial had an extremely underwhelming campaign last term. He scored just seven goals and provided nine assists in 36 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season. Fortunately for Manchester United, they were able to sign Edinson Cavani in the dying embers of the 2020 summer transfer window.
If not for the Uruguayan, Manchester United would have struggled to find goals as Martial was nowhere near his best. He hasn't helped his case this season either, scoring just a single goal in seven appearances so far.
With Marcus Rashford set to return from injury, Martial will fall further down the pecking order. The Red Devils are rich in the attacking department and they will be ready to let the Frenchman leave in January. As per reports, Newcastle United are already in talks to sign the 25-year-old in the upcoming winter transfer window.
#1 Donny van de Beek
Well, it is a transfer that has simply not worked out. Donny van de Beek has a lot of quality but it would be difficult for any player to displace the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes from the United starting XI. He has started just four league games for Manchester United since arriving in the summer of 2020.
Van de Beek is not a holding midfielder and therefore, he is not a threat to either Fred or Scott McTominay. It is a near-impossible situation as at 24-years-old, the Dutchman shouldn't be losing out on any more years that could go into his development.
He was named in the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or and it's quite unfortunate that his big move to Old Trafford hasn't worked out to anyone's liking. But Van de Beek ought to try and revive his career elsewhere, preferably in a team that needs an attacking midfielder of his qualities.
He is excellent with his movement and at exploiting little pockets of space and thereby opening up space for his teammates. Manchester United need to sign a defensive midfielder who can pass the ball through the lines. The solution is straightforward.
Sell Donny van de Beek and use that money to find a better alternative for Fred.
