Three things Everton must do to beat Man United this weekend

A top-six finish this season is looking like a realistic target for an Everton side that appears to be back to their best under Roberto Martinez in 2015-16.

The Toffees have proven this term that they can beat anyone on their day, while the individual ability and quality in their side should not be understated.

A 1-1 draw last time out against Merseyside rivals Liverpool will come as something of a frustration for the Goodison Park outfit, as it was the hosts that were looking more likely to pick up all three points as the game progressed.

Another significant challenge awaits Martinez’s men this weekend, as Manchester United are in town and keen to make amends for a defeat to Arsenal in their last game.

With the clash set to be decided by the finest of margins, here are three things Everton must do if they are to pick up all three points.

Get their team selection right

Gone are the days when Everton’s starting XI was predictable; the Toffees have strength in depth across the park and plenty of options for Martinez to select from.

For this clash, the Spanish boss has a number of interesting personnel decisions to make if the hosts are to be victorious.

John Stones is fit to play after shirking off injury and will surely replace Ramiro Funes Mori at centre-half, despite the Argentine’s positive start to life in England.

Seamus Coleman is also set to return to first-team action, but it will be interesting to see whether Martinez deems him fit enough to make the starting line-up.

The final key position where the former Wigan coach must get his choices right is in wide areas, with Aaron Lennon, Arouna Kone, Steven Naismith, Gerard Deulofeu and others all looking to get the nod.

Attack United’s full-backs

Following on from the previous point, Everton’s wingers will play a significant role in getting the better of a United side that looked weak on the flanks at the Emirates Stadium.

Matteo Darmian was given the runaround by Alexis Sanchez, while Ashley Young’s deployment in the back four still has question marks surrounding it.

If Everton can get the likes of Deulofeu and Lennon in one-on-one situations against their opposite numbers, with progressive full-backs overlapping, it could be a real source of success for the Merseyside hosts.

Close down United’s deep-lying playmakers

Van Gaal has had three top-class central midfielders to select from this season for two spaces, with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Carrick all in the reckoning to start at Goodison.

If as expected it is the German and veteran Englishman who are fielded, Everton must close down these refined pass-masters and prevent the rich flow of distribution that comes from deep.

The energy of James McCarthy and Gareth Barry will be needed for the ploy to work, but Martinez and the home faithful will also want a shift from their attacking players such as Barkley and Lukaku to win the ball back high up the pitch.

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This is the manager Newcastle should hire without sacking McClaren

Newcastle United fans’ disgruntlement with Mike Ashley is building towards an uneasy crescendo. His appointment of Steve McClaren was given a tepid reception and he’s only managed to produce lukewarm results.

After disliking former manager Alan Pardew, on the grounds he was part of the cockney clique, the idea of returning to London for one of their most famous managerial icons should sound unlikely. But Harry Redknapp provides a solution to their problems and they needn’t lose McClaren.

Pride comes before a fall, and unless someone lends Steve McClaren a hand, he’ll be out on his behind before Christmas. The current manager of Newcastle may feel he is too far into his career to consider a job share but he should take a moment to consider the bigger picture.

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His record on these shores comes under a cloud. A failed attempt as England manager always hangs over his every move. At FC Twente his side played good football – almost as impressive as McClaren’s Dutch accent – and they showed European pedigree. But the crossover to English success still eludes him.

His Derby County side were unlucky in the 2014 Championship play-off final and their form only fell away last year when he was repeatedly linked to the Newcastle job. However, that dismissal is another blot on his career. Being removed as Newcastle manager after such a short period of time would make the chance of him getting another decent job in England less likely.

There’s no point referring to his long undefeated run working as a coach in Alex Ferguson’s treble winning side – unless it’s an admission that’s his best role. That’s not to say he can’t ever be a good gaffer but the Newcastle job is a poisoned chalice – much like the England one is – and a manager whose reputation is in such a fragile state needs outside help.

Just like when Terry Venables went to Middlesbrough to assist Bryan Robson, the concept has merit here. That venture may have led to Robson’s eventual dismissal but he hasn’t gone on to prove he has the required credentials. McClaren on the other hand, has already experienced success as a solo manager and is well travelled.

But it’s clear he’s lacking in a key area and Harry Redknapp can provide excellent on-the-job training. Seen as the lovable cockney, he was the nation’s choice for England boss ahead of Roy Hodgson. It’s this personable nature that lends him to being a good man-manager, something McClaren – despite having tactical nous – consistently fails to impress on his players.

The positive and strong figurehead in the dressing room will focus the team, allowing Steve McClaren to do what he does as good as anyone in the country – coach.

Bringing in a character like Redknapp also gives Mike Ashley a respite. The attention he brings would divert the rumblings of discontent away from the owner.

That is until the January transfer window, when the fans will be demanding Ashley trusts Redknapp with his money. Along with Sky Sports spending deadline day following Harry out of car parks, and Niko Kranjcar waiting by the phone hoping to be reunited with his old boss one more time.

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Goalkeeper set to be offered Liverpool deal amid praise from Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is preparing a new deal for number-one goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

Mignolet has been recently linked with a move away from Anfield, with Klopp reportedly looking at several other goalkeepers ahead of the January transfer window.

However, the German boss seems to have no desire in replacing the Belgium international, who is now set to be offered a new deal amid Klopp’s praise of his abilities.

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“It is a good moment to talk about the goalkeepers at Liverpool,” said Klopp. “I am absolutely satisfied with our goalkeeping situation. I am sorry to kill your stories about German goalkeepers and goalkeepers from Stoke.

“We are not looking for another goalkeeper. We have enough high quality goalkeepers, I’ve had a lot of goalkeepers over last few years and Simon Mignolet is one of the smartest I have ever had.

“He is completely open and he’s young enough to develop, to improve. He’s not had the easiest situation before I came here , but since I have been here there has been nothing to criticise, absolutely nothing.

“Everyone is watching for a second Manuel Neuer or something, but he is in a really good way. We just have to learn as a team to give the ball to the keeper in the right situation. Our goalkeeping situation is a comfortable one and I hope it stays like this.”

The 27-year-old arrived from Sunderland in the summer of 2013 and had a brilliant debut, saving a penalty to keep a clean sheet in his first competitive fixture.

But since then, Mignolet has been involved in several errors that saw him dropped in December last year, but has fought back to regain his status as the club’s number one.

The Reds are in a good vein of form ahead of a hectic December period, sitting sixth on the Premier League table winning six of their last seven fixtures.

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Fantasy Premier League differential options for Gameweek 23

With the next round of Premier League fixtures coming up this weekend, it’s now time to begin planning who to take out or bring in for your fantasy team.

Last week didn’t quite go according to plan as Enner Valencia, Aaron Ramsey, and Jermain Defoe all failed to live up to expectations.

Valencia and Defoe only managed to get two points each while Ramsey registered three following matches against Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Stoke City respectively.

Once again we advise you to pick players that aren’t selected by a majority of users given that if they do manage to make an impression, you can greatly benefit from their displays.

Following the trends will eventually get you right back to where you started, so if you want to move higher up your respective league tables, start considering differentials.

With a few interesting matches coming up, here are three Fantasy Premier League differentials worth taking a look at ahead of Gameweek 23.

Gerard Deulofeu

Everton midfielder Gerard Deulofeu (6.1 and owned by 2.4%) can be seen as an interesting pick given that he has already picked up nine assists this season.

His next match sees him face a struggling Swansea City side who previously lost four goals to Sunderland. Deulofeu only featured for 11 minutes in the previous game, but still managed to provide a goal.

Jonny Evans

West Bromwich Albion star Jonny Evans (4.8 and owned by 1.2%) could be a good choice given that his side have three rather easy matches coming up. Manager Tony Pulis is known for his defensive game and could be in line to pick up some clean sheets.

West Brom will play Aston Villa at home, Swansea City at home, and then Newcastle United away, all matches that can reward Evans with a clean sheet.

Christian Eriksen

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Christian Eriksen (8.3 and owned by 5.5%) was the star for his side when they overcame Sunderland 4-1 last weekend.

Eriksen managed to score two goals as he picked up a total of 15 points for Gameweek 22, with anyone who has him in their squad surely asking for a repeat of his recent performance when Spurs face Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Five of the biggest panic signings in Premier League history

Crystal Palace’s boardroom must’ve been awash with fear as the transfer deadline approached last month. There cannot be any other explanation for a club paying the absurd amount of wages that Emannuel Adebayor demands.

Alan Pardew can’t seem to arrest the calamitous slide of his Crystal Palace side and they are about to face a drubbing to Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion. Pulis’ Albion are one of the lowest scoring sides in the league and are, some how, walking through the Palace defence.

As deadlines approach, we can all get a bit jittery and do questionable things, but some transfers we see when the clock is ticking boggle the mind.

Drinking too much caffeine tends to be an issue for people who are pressurised by deadlines, but it is a whole different ball game when there are millions of pounds at stake. Football chairmen and general big wigs can make pretty disastrous calls and here are some of the worst..

Chris Samba

QPR haven’t exactly been frugal over the last few years, but the Rs haven’t made many cock-ups quite as significant as the millions they spent on Samba.

The powerful centre-back arrived from Russia amid great hope but he was run past like he’d be glued in place, unfortunately, the place he had been glued in still wasn’t the right position.

Falcao

Radamel Falcao’s move to Manchester United was a clear ploy to win the fans back at Old Trafford and it could not have failed in much more spectacular fashion.

Managing to mis-control, mis-pass and miss barn doors, Falcao had a torrid time at Old Trafford and embarrassed the club.

Papy Djilbodji

Papy Djilbodji must’ve thought he had made his big break when Chelsea came calling for him last summer, but the centre-back was quickly farmed out to Werder Bremen and looks unlikely to ever make a name for himself at the Blues.

After a long pursuit of John Stones, a defender was a mere necessity and this signing was just like throwing cash down the drain.

Andy Carroll

Carroll looks to have finally found his level at West Ham, after his spell at Liverpool finally came to an end a couple of years ago.

When Fernando Torres made the big move from Anfield to Chelsea, Liverpool rushed through the majority of the revenue to go straight for the pony-tailed target man. The video above shows one of the best touches Carroll had in a red shirt.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Palace’s recent move for the former Manchester City striker is reap any reward and the African centre-forward is likely to be even more trouble than he is worth.

The huge wages he has demanded where ever he plays have caused problems and his ‘languid’ style doesn’t exactly fit with the flying wide men at Selhurst Park.

A great game awaits, but will it be too much for Liverpool & Klopp?

When Jurgen Klopp heard who his Liverpool side had drawn in the Europa League quarter final, he must have sworn to himself. For Klopp, the ideal final of the Europa League would have been Liverpool vs. Borussia Dortmund. Instead in the last round of 16 BVB await the Reds in a mouth-watering tie.

The famous ‘Yellow Wall’ will most probably give their ex-manager a warm welcome upon his return, with Klopp having made his name at Dortmund. With two Bundesliga titles and one cup, as well as a Champions League Final against Bayern Munich in 2013, made Klopp boosted Dortmund’s image across the globe. But now under Thomas Tuchel, his old side are again on the up.

Tuchel’s Dortmund currently sit second in the Bundesliga, five points off Bayern, who earlier in the season looked to be running away with the league. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is gaining international attention for his goals, while the solidity of Mats Hummels and the talents of Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus earn praise.

Dortumund are Germany’s second most popular team, and in the Europa League this season look to be the favourites. Although there were losses early on in the group stage, they have since beaten Porto and Tottenham in the knockouts comfortably.

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Given the teams left in the competition, unless Dortmund do something seriously wrong then this competition should be theirs. Sevilla are the only side that could pose a genuine problem, but Dortmund still have most of the experienced side from that Champions League final left.

Liverpool in the Europa League have been a bit lucky, with a poor group stage and then a poor showing against FC Augsburg getting them a tie against a woeful Manchester United. Had the Red Devils turned up in either leg, then Liverpool would not have progressed as easily as they did do to the quarters.

In Dortmund, they will be tested to the limits, especially considering the squad is no longer playing to Klopp’s system. Given that Dortmund easily dispatched Spurs, who currently sit second in the Premier League, it shows that Liverpool are in for a torrid time – albeit Mauricio Pochettino’s commitment to the tie was questionable.

In Aubameyang Dortmund have a player that every team wishes was theirs: a player who continues to defy the odds and scores goals consistently, taking the mantle that Robert Lewandowski held so high a few seasons ago. Add in the magic of Reus, and the improved performances from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Liverpool’s defenders really could struggle.

Given the inconsistent form of Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel, it could make for a torrid time for those in the Kop. One thing for certain though is this will be a very exciting match, and the atmosphere will be electric. The return of Klopp to the team that helped create him, as well as both teams booming out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ could make for a great night, and an awesome football match.

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Four Copa America stars Liverpool & Arsenal must watch this summer

It isn’t just the EUROs making everyone go ballistic this summer, guys, there’s the small matter of the Copa America rumbling along a few thousand miles to the west. Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and others are all going to be playing off for the biggest prize that the Americas has to offer, could it be more exciting?

Clubs love a bit of national team scouting and it invariably ends in a monster transfer fee followed by a calamitous season. We can look forwards to some really hilarious negotiating, questionable scouting and over-rated stars making fools of themselves, there’s just simply nothing not to like.

Of course it would be easier for clubs to look at these players during the regular season, but that would be far too easy for our money-dominated Premier League club. Like that kid at school that had to have the newest phone, console and football boots, Premier League clubs focus solely on the vogue.

FIVE players might just be eyed-up by the PL moneybags…

Juan Cuadrado

Goading a Chelsea winger away to North London or Merseyside will be tricky in itself, but Cuadrado has been one of the top performing players in Italy in 2015/16.

Flying pace, rocket shooting and decent crossing, Cuadrado could provide natural width to many a Premier League side. Whilst Chelsea seem unsure what future there is for the Colombian, he should be given a Premier League opportunity.

Gonzalo Higuain

Simply the best natural centre-forward in the world right now, Higuain’s sublime season with Napoli cannot be overstated.

Scoring goals more regularly than any player has in recent Italian history, the Argentine has developed rapidly since his move from Real Madrid and looks a totally different force right now. A finisher as lethal as Higuain doesn’t come along too often…

Javier Mascherano

Could a return to Liverpool on the cards? Or could a move to elsewhere in England be on the horizon?

Argentina’s destroyer has largely featured as a centre-back at Barcelona and might be tempted into a move if a team can offer him a midfield berth. A rock hard tackler, experienced campaigner and all-round class act, Mascherano must be a target for many a Premier League club this summer.

Hulk

Yesterday’s potatoes, I hear you scream. Well, perhaps, but Hulk has yet to be given an opportunity in any of Europe’s top five leagues and he must be growing tired of his time with Zenit.

A regular for Brazil, he clearly has the ability and this might be one of the last seasons that he can really demonstrate that. English football seems nicely suited to Hulk, perhaps this could be the summer for him to make his mark.

The good & the bad… What Man United must expect from this blockbuster transfer

Charismatic, arrogant, temperamental and the scorer of outrageous goals. To summarise the above traits in two words, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. ‘Ibra’ is a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, having scored 50 goals in 51 games last season and is name being heavily linked with host of clubs, most prominently Manchester United.

According to Sky Sports, here’s what Ray Wilkins had to say about the charismatic forward:

“I think he’s got the correct character, the correct standing in the game. He is Cantona-esque coming into Old Trafford. I think he’s got a lot in his legs. This guy would be a marquee signing and you haven’t got to pay any money for him, only his wages. United need characters, charisma back at the club and he would give them that. It would probably only be a one-year contract, but it’s well worth the gamble.”

But what impact does the dynamic Swede provide? Well, here are FIVE things Man United fans can expect from the Scandinavian superstar…

1. Experience

Having played for seven clubs (Malmö FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain), the Swede brings in a lot of experience, which helps to balance the the squad. This experience is essential for the development of the young talent pool at Manchester United, which contains the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Memphis Depay, Jesse Lingard, Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson.

2. Character

The most talked about trait of Zlatan. He is touted as ‘Eric Cantona 2.0’ by many, thanks to his spiky personality and fierce ego. His presence on the field is expected to light up the atmosphere at Old Trafford and the fans might even witness some witty lines at press conferences. Don’t forget, he often refers to himself in third person.

He is also known for his pranks on team-mates could, which could prove important in maintaining a bubbly mood in the dressing room.

3. Commercial impact

In 2014/15, Radamel Falcao failed to make much of an impact on the pitch for Manchester United, but in terms of shirt sales the Colombian performed phenomenally. In the week following transfer deadline day, the then new Man United No.9 shirt accounted for a whopping 33% of all Premier League shirt sales globally.

In the same season, Bastian Schweinsteiger moved up 27 places in the rankings and saw a phenomenal 795%  increase in sales of his shirt.

Both the stars couldn’t play much for United, largely due to injuries, but Ibrahimovic could prove more bankable than most players in the Manchester United squad in terms of merchandise sales. Zlatan is rumoured to be close to signing a one-year contract (with an option for the club to extend that by another 12 months), so the jersey will surely massively boost sales.

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4. Man United’s attacking starlets may take game time hit

The advantage of having Jose Mourinho as the manager is that ‘The Special One’ surely analyses the squad at his disposal and then decides the formation and tactics. Manchester United currently have many midfielders and three centre forwards (Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford), so the equilibrium between the midfielders and strikers needs to be maintained.

Martial had a terrific debut season in an underwhelming Manchester United campaign and notched 18 goals and nine assists. The impending arrival of Zlatan might reduce game time for Martial (in his natural position at centre forward) and so he might be shifted to left wing (a problem for Depay).

Marcus Rashford, who has caught the eye by scoring on his first shot on target in Premier League, Europa League and his England debut, might settle for a bench role which could hinder his growth. A loan move may be on the cards.

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5. Tantrums and craziness

Ibrahimovic has been involved in several violent incidents with team-mates and a coach

During his spell at Barcelona, ‘Ibra’ had a falling-out with coach Pep Guardiola, culminating in a dressing room incident in which the Swede threw a training-kit box across the room and screamed insults at Guardiola.

In 2011, he kicked teammate Antonio Cassano in the face while Cassano was speaking to reporters and kicked Rodney Strasser during a training session.

In March 2013, PSG winger Lucas Moura claimed that Ibrahimovic regularly insulted team-mates, stating “He always asks for the ball and insults a lot. He is sometimes a bit arrogant and complains.” Lucas later claimed, though, that the interview was twisted and badly translated. In May 2013, Ibrahimovic was filmed screaming at sporting director Leonardo after PSG’s title victory.

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Five La Liga stars on Southampton’s transfer radar

Southampton are heading into what looks like a third successive summer of turmoil, with manager, Ronald Koeman and key players, Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane looking likely to move to pastures new.

Under Koeman Saints finished 6th in the Premier League last season, securing Europa League football and breaking the club’s record points tally for the second successive season.

Should Koeman leave then his successor will have to emulate the re-building job the Dutchman so successfully masterminded during his first summer in 2014 after the departures of players such as Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert.

They will not be short of funds though, although Saints have a strong self-sufficient philosophy they are not afraid to re-invest the money made from transfers into the squad.

If Mane and Wanyama do decide to leave the South Coast side, they will command hefty price tags, therefore whoever is in charge this summer will be looking for replacements.

Having been ranked by UEFA as the best league in Europe for the past three years, La Liga, could prove to be a good hunting ground for The Saints.

Signings from La Liga could bring a higher level of European experience to the squad if these FIVE are anything to go by…

VICENTE IBORRA

With their manager also looking likely to leave, Europa League Champions Sevilla could be ripe for picking this summer. Vicente Iborra could be an ideal replacement for Victor Wanayama.

Although not as physically imposing as the Kenyan, Iborra can also be deployed slightly further forward having scored nine goals for Unai Emery’s side last season, scoring the second goal in Sevilla’s 2-1 over Barcelona.

The 28-year-old has featured in the last three Europa League winning campaigns, meaning his experience would be invaluable to Saints.

PACO ALCACER

Football – SL Benfica v Valencia CF – Emirates Cup – Pre Season Friendly Tournament – Emirates Stadium – 14/15 – 3/8/14Paco Alcacer – ValenciaMandatory Credit: Action Images / John SibleyEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Saints could show a real statement of ambition by splashing the cash on this Valencia star. His 15 goals last season saw him finish as top scorer for the third season running.

With Graziano Pelle being rumoured as another to leave Saints over the summer and Charlie Austin having scored just the one goal during his injury marred time with the club so far, the 22-year-old could really add some bite to Saints’ front line.

However, Alcacer will come with quite the price tag, something which Saints are more accustom and comfortable with receiving rather than parting company with.

SERGI SAMPER

Another player that would show a sign of ambition but would maybe take more patience from the Saints fans to fill the role of Wanayama.

The Barcelona youngster made seven first team appearances last season and could prove to be quite difficult to prize away from the La Liga Champions, however should Saints meet his buyout fee of around £9.5m and include a buy back price, a deal could be on the cards.

Samper has spent a lot of time playing for Barca B, but has previously made it clear that he is after more first team football, whether that be with his boyhood club or not.

VITOLO

Back to Sevilla again but this time for talented winger Vitolo. The 26-year-old could prove to be a good fit if Sadio Mane moves on.

Like teammate Ibarro, Vitolo has a wealth of Europa League experience to draw on which is vital if Saints are keen to continue their trend of seven seasons of improvement.

Securing the 26-year-old Spaniard would, like Alcacer, mean Saints moving away from their rather shrewd approach to their transfer targets and offering Sevilla a serious amount of money.

SAMU CASTILLEJO

The biggest gamble of this list but could prove to be a superb signing is Villerreal’s young winger, Samu Castillejo.

The 21-year-old is a graduate of the Malaga academy and has attracted plaudits from Diego Simeone and another former Malaga youngster, Real Madrid’s Isco.

Although an exciting prospect, Castillejo has only been at Villerreal for a season and therefore, unless an exceptional bid is put in, the Spanish club are unlikely to want to sell.

The five Man United midfielders who will have to pay for Pogba’s arrival

With Manchester United finally completing their pursuit of former player Paul Pogba for a world record transfer fee the focus now shifts on the players that will have to make way so the books can be balanced.

In what was already a congested area of the squad Jose Mourinho will now look to trim the fat and recoup some if not nearly all of that £89m transfer fee.

So here are the five midfielders that will probably make way this summer, and depart Old Trafford…

Marouane Fellaini

Football – Manchester United v Manchester City – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 12/4/15Marouane Fellaini celebrates scoring the second goal for Manchester UnitedReuters / Darren StaplesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative fo

The Belgian international went on record last week and said that he was not interested in a move to Sunderland and was prepared to fight for his place at Old Trafford, but after that misplaced pass in the Community Shield which allowed Jamie Vardy to equalise for Leicester I don’t think he will necessarily be allowed to make that decision himself.

The often derided former Everton man has rarely shown the form he showed at Goodison Park and has certainly not lived up to the £27m that David Moyes paid for him in 2013. For a team that prides itself on fast attacking football, Fellaini seems to be the opposite and one too many clumsy performances in a United shirt has seen the patience with fans worn out. Not many will shed a tear if the 28 year old departs before the end of the month

Juan Mata

After he came on for Jesse Lingard in the Community Shield on Sunday many felt that maybe Mourinho was willing to give him a second chance under his stewardship by the time he was then subbed off himself in embarrassing fashion then you knew that Mata’s time at Old Trafford was coming to an end.

Mourinho has already sent him packing once before as it was he who sold him to Manchester United back in 2014 and it looks as if lightning will now strike twice for the 28 year old. With Mata being a World Cup and European Championship winner there will certainly be a long line of suitors but he won’t be wearing the United red come September

Adnan Januzaj

Football – Manchester United v Swansea City – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 14/15 – 16/8/14Adnan Januzaj – Manchester UnitedMandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee SmithEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

After bursting on the scene at Old Trafford in the 2013-14 season, Januzaj’s career has somewhat stalled. That was mainly in part to the arrival of Louis van Gaal as manager. Although Van Gaal liked to give youth a chance, Januzaj was often overlooked as he saw his route to the first team blocked.

A loan spell to Borussia Dortmund last season was not a success with it being cut short in January. Januzaj himself has said that if he was to leave Old Trafford then it would have to be a permanent deal and that is very much going to be the likelihood as the 21 year old counts down his last days in Manchester.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

With the German frozen out of first team training it’s not a case of if he was to depart but when. The 31 year old being told he is surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho and Schweinsteiger’s stay at Old Trafford is set to be a short one.

He has never looked anything close to the player that bossed the Bundesliga for over a decade, if he was still that good then you would have to imagine that Bayern Munich would have never sold him themselves. A move back to Germany seems the most likely option for the German.

Memphis Depay

Bought with much fanfare last season, Depay delivered just 2 Premier League goals in 29 appearances, that was nowhere near what was expected of him and the pressure will be on for him to deliver this time around. That is if he is given the chance to do so.

The Dutchman was nowhere near the Community Shield lineup on Sunday and doesn’t seem to be figuring largely in Mourinho’s plans as of late.

He may well fell that after a disappointing first season at Old Trafford that he may not be worthy of a second stint. The arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and form of Jesse Lingard will have pushed Depay down the pecking order it also may have pushed him out of the exit door.

This article was submitted via our Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and give yourself the chance of winning monthly cash prizes…

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