3 players Manchester United must sell in January

At the risk of sounding repetitive, Manchester United have not experienced the season you would expect from the reigning champions, who last year claimed the title by eleven points. Currently, they find themselves fourteen short of the points tally they had amassed after the first seventeen games during the previous campaign. However, the squad David Moyes inherited was not exactly bereft of deadweight, and so here are three players the Red Devils’ boss should consider showing the door in January.

Ashley Young

First and foremost on David Moyes list of expendables should be Ashley Young. As we all know full well, Young has underwhelmed wildly since joining from Aston Villat wo summers ago, but in recent months he has become more than simply a mediocre player – he is now a player who symbolises Manchester United’s potential descent into mediocrity.

This is not entirely Young’s own fault – indeed, it would not have be possible under his previous manager – he is simply the most average of a startlingly average crop (obligatory shouts here to Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Chris Smalling, among others). That said, his current status amongst United fans, as the default on-field target for what are essentially off-field problems, is not likely to change any time soon. That, by habitually diving, he indulges in the nation’s most detested act of cheatery, does not help his barely-existent case, either. Nor, of course, does the ludicrous fact that his goal against Stoke last week was his first in United colours for 17 months.

It should be remembered that Young isn’t actually that bad a player – he can even be quite a good one – but whether he’ll ever be a good player for Manchester United is about as improbable as Malcolm Glazer being awarded the Freedom of the City.

Rio Ferdinand

A rather more defensible one here, but one for whom a January parting of ways with United could be beneficial for both player and club. There can be little doubt that Ferdinand is currently a player on the wane: Morgan Amalfitano, earlier this season, proved this better than a thousand words ever could. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this – it happens when sportsmen get old – but Ferdinand is still a decent enough defender to see out the remainder of his career at a reputable top-level club – hell, he could even move abroad for a season or two! – as opposed to picking up silly wages for minimal effort at Old Trafford, despite the temptation to do so.

Now 35, Ferdinand has rarely been trusted by David Moyes this term in the league – he has started just 7 games, of which only two have been wins and two were the defensive travesties against West Brom and Manchester City. He has also spoken publicly about his dissatisfaction with his new manager’s habit of naming the team on match day, which created superfluous turbulence that his club could really do without. To an outsider, it seems that all is not well between Ferdinand and United.

Interestingly, Moyes has fielded Ferdinand rather more in Europe (four appearances of a possible six), where his creaking joints can be less easily taken advantage of. But a team’s centre-back pairing is not one for which chopping and changing is ideal, and with Jonny Evans finally on an upward trajectory and Phil Jones awaiting a lengthy run in his eventual position, Ferdinand’s (presumably lavish) contract now represents poor value for money.

Javier Hernandez

Hernandez’ Appearances: PL 2013/14

This is a suggestion that calls upon United’s altruism rather than their self-interest, but Hernandez is truly a player that should be leading the line for a top-level side every week.

With Danny Welbeck finally having figured out in recent weeks where the goal is located, and with his mobility seemingly giving him the edge over Hernandez, the Mexican has been effectively relegated to definitive fourth-choice striker at Old Trafford.

Three league starts by Christmas is an injustice for a player of the Hernandez’ calibre, even if he has struggled to replicate his best form this term – which is forgivable, given his lack of sharpness-inducing game time and the largely dysfunctional nature of those around him.

Blessed with unyieldingly buzzing penalty-box movement and the sort of instinctively goal-bound finishing ability that brings to mind the likes of Robbie Fowler and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Hernandez will score goals for any side that field him regularly – as evidenced by his goalscoring record of 35 in 57 for his country.

United may be understandably reluctant to allow a player of his calibre to depart, but they have ample cover and, at 25, Hernandez should be displaying his talents more frequently than he does. He would surely invite a sizeable fee and, with other areas of the pitch is desperate need of reinforcement, it could be a transaction which might become more attractive to the club with each passing week.