Five Players Who Could Leave United This Summer

Paul Pogba - is he on his way this Summer?

With 10 games to go in the Premier League season, as well as the Europa League campaign (which is now seemingly doomed), some may suggest its a little early to be starting to predict the ins and outs of the summer transfer window. However, some players will be using these remaining games to prove that they still have what it takes to fill a United shirt.

In modern times, players come and go from football clubs with increasing regularity. Some leave because they are ‘past it’ and no longer up to the standard required. Some leave because they haven’t lived up to their substantial (and usually inflated) transfer fees, while others are shown the door after a falling out with the manager. And then there’s others who leave because playing football for a club with the stature of Manchester United, is no longer enough.

Here’s a look at 5 United players who could be seen in different kits come July next year.

Richie de Laet – de Laet was a bit of a strange signing in my opinion. He was bought in from Stoke and United fans around the world instantly got their Google on to discover who exactly he was, where he plays, and how many games he’d played for Stoke’s first team. The answer to that particular question, was none. de Laet was a player who never looked to have the quality to play for United, so one can only imagine there was some pretty hasty scouting going on somewhere. The young Belgian has been shipped out on loan a number of times, but struggled to impress wherever he went. Chances of leaving: 8/10.

Paul Pogba – [ Written before today’s game] The one that disappoints me the most (as some of you will already know from reading a couple of my previous articles). I have been tracking his development ever since he arrived at United from le Havre in 2009. Pogba is a beast of a player, who always looked far too good for the Academy and Reserve leagues. Many United fans assumed it was only a matter of time before he forced his way into the United first team. However, after only four substitute performances, including one in the Premier League, Pogba looks certain to leave for Juventus in the summer. Last week, he reportedly turned down an offer of forty-five thousand pounds a week, a lot more than some of United’s first team regulars are on. With a greedy agent, and a decision to place money above becoming a United legend, only a small miracle will see Paul Pogba playing in the red of United next season. Chances of leaving: 9.5/10

SAF has said that Pogba is yet to make his mind up so after playing today I’d rate his chances as fifty-fifty in terms of leaving- ED.

Bebe – This signing comes straight out of the same book as the Richie de Laet and Manucho signings. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted himself that he’d never seen him play before writing out a cheque for 7.4 million pounds. After a couple of mediocre performances, where he was made to look poor against a certain couple of League One sides in the cup, Bebe was shipped off on loan to Besiktas for the season. However, a cruciate ligament injury has meant he hasn’t played a game for the Turkish side. This is one player who has definitely played for United for the last time. Chances of leaving: 10/10

Ezekiel Fryers – Another player who has emerged as a possible contract rebel over the past few weeks is young defender Ezekiel Fryers. The Englishman, who can play in the centre of defense, or at left back, has come through the youth set up at United and has made a handful of appearances for the first team this season, mainly in Cup competitions. A reported interest from Tottenham has left him stalling on United’s contract offer. Surely this young man will see the light and commit his future to United. Chances of leaving: 3/10

Michael Owen –  At the time this looked a shrewd signing for Sir Alex Ferguson, and a sure way to wind up the Scousers. The signing of Owen has not been a bad one for United when you consider he arrived on a free transfer. While fit, Owen has scored some important goals for United. His late, late goal against City comes to  mind along with his hattrick against Wolfsburg in the Champions League. The fact he has been injured for most of this campaign, along with the emergence of Danny Welbeck and the probably resigning of Dimitar Berbatov, will probably mean Owen will move on at the end of this season. Chances of leaving: 9/10

The above five players are the ones most likely to leave Old Trafford this summer, and the good news for United is that none of the five are established first team players. Unless, a mega bid comes in from somewhere, the senior squad looks settled and with a few new additions, should see us challenging strongly again next season. However, I’m sure the United faithful will be more than a little disappointed if the young talents that are Pogba and Fryers, slip through our grasp.

Follow me on Twitter @levibarrow