Four Players Likely To Leave United This Summer

After a nail-biting end to the season and a large dose of ‘squeaky bum’ time, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will again look to reshape and rebuild his side. Jonathan Day analyses the likely candidates who look set to depart Old Trafford this summer.

Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov finished top goalscorer in the Premier League two seasons ago, but the move away from Old Trafford has long been mooted with a return to the Bundesliga probable. Berbatov scored seven goals in just 12 appearances for the Red Devils last season and the Bulgarian exudes an enigmatic class on the pitch.

With an almost one in two record at the Theatre of Dreams, Dimitar Berbatov has gone some way to repaying the £30.5 million pound transfer fee paid almost four years ago, although one criticism levelled at the former Leverkusen striker has been his return and impact in the big games, with a large portion of his goals coming against lesser teams.

Anderson

The injuries to Anderson are undoubtedly a concern for Sir Alex Ferguson. Anderson spent just 690 minutes on the pitch for Manchester United last season, but did at least appear to be offering more going forward, scoring twice.

Admired for his drive and determination in midfield by many in the Stretford End, Anderson has rarely made key contributions on the pitch, but the early partnership with Tom Cleverly did hold promise in the first few weeks of the season. The signing of Kagawa could very well end a 5-year stay at Old Trafford for Anderson.

Fabio

Brazilian defender Fabio also looks likely to move on. Heralded as the better of the Da Silva twins when they first arrived at Old Trafford, Fabio has found his chances limited this season with Patrice Evra featuring in more games than any other Manchester United player last season.

Loan moves to Benfica and QPR have been touted, whilst the introduction of Ezekiel Fryers into the first team squad also limits the Brazilian’s playing time next season, though question marks remain over whether the academy talent will sign a new contract.

Federico Macheda

Macheda burst on the scene three years ago, scoring a crucial curling effort against Aston Villa in a game that was often regarded as a turning point in Manchester United’s title winning season in 2008-2009. The Italian striker has subsequently been loaned out in recent seasons and was at Sampdoria in 2011, but failed to score in 14 games in a campaign that ended in relegation.

Macheda joined Mark Hughes’ QPR side in January but was rarely used. “Kiko” also faced two cases of misconduct on Twitter during his time in London. Macheda could be loaned out again, although the two prior loan moves have been of little benefit to the Italian to date. The injury to Will Keane may however boost Macheda’s chances next season.

With the transfer window open, Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to freshen up his squad and move on a number of players who will be of little benefit to United next season. Who do you think will leave this summer? Get involved in the comments section.

Author Credit: Jonathan Day who is a football betting expert on European and Premier League football. Jonathan currently writes for Sportingly Better, a football predictions blog which provides betting tips and fantasy football picks.