5 players who could leave Manchester United after the FA Cup final

When Jose Mourinho became manager of Manchester United in 2016, he inherited a squad that needed a number of structural changes. It's an inevitable situation that the club had brought on themselves with the lack of vision and the rapid churn of personnel from the David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal reigns.

The club had gone from the epitome of stability to the stupor of haphazardness until Mourinho took charge and gradually brought some method and direction. For continuing the march towards old glories, United will need to refresh their squad once more.

While he has managed to shift much of the deadwood (apologies to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who in his prime was one of the greatest midfield generals of all time), Mourinho has recently made a very pointed reference to some players still in the squad, who may not 'make it' under him at the Theatre of Dreams.

Here, we look at 5 players who may well be making their last appearance for Manchester United on Saturday in the 2018 FA Cup final.

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#5 Chris Smalling - Market value 18 million euros

Chris Smalling may move out of Old Trafford soon.

Mourinho already has his warriors at United in Phil Jones and Eric Bailly. Both of Smalling’s managers, Gareth Southgate at international level and Mourinho at club level, seem to think he is not good enough on the ball, so the ball playing mantle will fall on Victor Lindelof and most likely a shiny new signing at central defence. The implication is that Smalling is in no man’s land which makes him a likely candidate for the chop before the beginning of next season.

#4 Anthony Martial - Market value 65 million euros

Martial may soon be taking his lazy brilliance elsewhere

Manchester United may have made Martial the most expensive teenager in 2015. He may be a supremely talented player with the potential to be amongst the best, however, given the current circumstances, he seems to be on his way out and he may even end up causing a sense of De Bruyne déjà vu for manager Mourinho.

Critics may point out Mourinho’s style of play, but Martial has not helped by being in a perennial sulk ever since Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived and did the most ‘Zlatan’ thing by taking away young Martial’s number 9 jersey.

The problem with Martial is the same that plagued Dimitar Berbatov in his Man United career. The Old Trafford crowd admire skill on the ball, but the least that is expected at United is basic effort.

Martial forms the antithesis to Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez (before he turned to Manchester blue), Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Park-ji-Sung - players with varying degrees of talent, but always ready to put in a shift.

Unless the player is a Cristiano Ronaldo or an Eric Cantona, both of whom exhibited bravery with the relentless application of their skill, United will not be a destination for luxury footballers like Martial, especially under a manager like Mourinho.

Expect him to be sent packing by the end of the season.

#3 Daley Blind - Market value 20 million euros

A Van Gaal signing, the versatile Blind initially became an important member of the first team with appearances at left-back, central-defence, and central midfield. His game-time has reduced as Mourinho has increased his influence on the team. His slight frame and lack of pace has counted against him for the positions he can play under Mourinho. He could have been a great ball-playing centre half for United, were it not for his slowness.

If Sir Alex Ferguson was there, Blind could have become a refined Dutch John O’Shea for United, but Mourinho's preference for pace and strength in defence means that he is likely to be shipped out in the summer transfer window.

#2 Matteo Darmian - Market value 12 million euros

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United - Premier League

Darmian had a barnstorming start to his United career when Van Gaal signed him in 2015, turning in a series of accomplished performances to indicate that United had finally found a long-term solution to the right-back problem, which they have faced since Gary Neville retired.

As it happens with many new players in the Premier League, though, English winter came and instead of celebrating Christmas and New Year with his family, Darmian was undergoing the grueling English tradition of non-stop games (and injuries/suspensions) during December. He never seemed to recover from the culture shock.

In the meantime under Mourinho, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young completed their metamorphosis as full-backs that started when Van Gaal was manager. Darmian has been a stop-gap every since. A return to Italy, most likely with Juventus, beckons.

#1 Marouane Fellaini - Market value 12 million euros

Not much to be said here. Jose Mourinho wants Fellaini to stay at United. Fellaini has failed to agree a new contract with the club so far.

He had become a symbol of the ineptitude of the David Moyes era at Manchester United. Pilloried for his technique and style of play, he got a reprieve when Mourinho joined the club and appreciated his warrior-like attitude. He has been a trusted and effective ‘plan B’ for the pragmatic United manager.

The recent game against Arsenal at Old Trafford was a typical example of how much Mourinho values the Belgian. He may not be a 'Manchester United type' player, but Mourinho is certainly going to miss him if Fellaini calls it a day at United.