Even if Jose Mourinho does not make another signing for Manchester United this transfer window, there should be no complaints about the business that has been concluded.
The arrivals of Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Paul Pogba have completely renewed the fan’s faith in the ability of the team to go on and win something this time out.
Ed Woodward has not been vilified and so he should also see this transfer window as a success, having managed to secure the services of each of the Mourinho requirements. It may have cost a king’s ransom but what good is the money if it just sits in a bank? Ed certainly likes spending it as much as he likes making it!
But, as Albert Einstein said, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction meaning, as I am sure he was alluding to at the time, that when players are bought, other players need to be sold. So who will be on the good ship Do One sailing in any direction as long as it is away from Old Trafford.
Bastian Schweinsteiger seems to already be on his way and there is some interest in him from around Europe so he probably won’t be darkening the doors for much longer.
Adnan Januzaj has, reportedly, said he wants to leave which usually results in a player getting his wish, so he shouldn’t be around much longer.
Donald Love and Paddy McNair are currently coughing for the doctor up at the Stadium of Light so their career paths seem destined to follow those of John O’Shea and Wes Brown. I bet they are excited by that prospect!
Assuming that these sales come to pass, as all things must, then that will see the four arrivals matched by four departures. However, this will still see United a little overloaded in the midfield area so don’t be too surprised if one or two more exit the premises.
Players unsure of regular football next season will be Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera. It is feasible that two of these could leave without damaging the balance or numbers Mourinho likes to have in his first team squad.
Memphis Depay has been an unmitigated failure since his arrival last year and has now had more than enough opportunities to redeem himself. The fact that he hasn’t been able to do this means that he probably never will and United should try and get their money back on him without too much delay as, the longer he stays, the more his value will decrease.
The other player about which there are now major doubts is Wayne Rooney. Quite incomprehensibly he has been keeping players much better than himself out of the team. This may be because he is the captain and has, according to Louis van Gaal, “special privileges”. If this is the case then it is a situation which needs addressing, even if it means stripping him of the captaincy. At present, he simply isn’t good enough for a place in the team.
Unfortunately, I don’t see Mourinho selling him although I do think it would be a good move to get something for him while he is still nearer 30 than 40.
In fairness, of the others previously mentioned, any of them could be deemed surplus to requirements by Mourinho who has always appeared to be a coach who knows exactly what he wants.
So despite assertions that they want to stay and fight for a place the midfielders most at risk of the chop would still appear to be Mata, Fellaini and Schneiderlin.
Defensively, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian look to be under the most threat but, unless Mourinho brings in another centre half, which he may well do, they will probably survive any cull. If a new defender does arrive then one or more of them will probably leave.
For some strange reason Antonio Valencia seems to have played his way into the manager’s good books as he is keeping Darmian, an Italian international, out of the team. This would appear to make him safe from any short-term axe wielding that Mourinho may carry out.
After some excellent signings in this transfer window Jose Mourinho will turn 90% of his attention to relieving some players of their duties. It is not a favoured part of the job in the eyes of most managers. It is, however, a necessary evil and, in this case, long overdue.
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 