Manchester United - Players leaving in January
Several of Manchester United players have been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, so I thought that before the transfer window opened it would be a good idea to look at the speculation and figure out what was reliable and what wasn’t.
Before the season started I wrote an article about 5 players that Manchester United would sell. These 5 were Darren Fletcher, Liam Miller, Mikael Silvestre, Patrice Evra and Tim Howard. Liam Miller was set free and joined Sunderland in late August, Evra has developed into a fantastic left-back, Howard is having a decent season at Everton and Darren Fletcher has improved quite a bit.
Right now I don’t think Fletch or Evra could be sold - for the rest (plus more players that are under speculation), here’s a quick analysis:
Tim Howard
With Kuszczak proving to be a shrewd buy and Foster being trained for taking over from van der Sar, Howard’s chances at Manchester United look numbered. He will probably be sold next year, maybe to Sunderland? 
Chances: Not in January.
Bardsley
Could be sent out on loan again, although if I’m right he’s probably going to stick around and be the designated Neville-sub for a few games.
Chances: May go out on loan, not likely to be sold.
Danny Simpson
Doesn’t look like a big long-term prospect, unless he can realistically challenge for either fullback spot.
Chances: Almost certain to go out on loan again. Could be sold.
Gabriel Heinze
Are you stupid or something? Manchester United will NOT sell Gabriel Heinze. Not this January, not in the summer.
Chances: You might get laid before Heinze’s sold.
Mikael Silvestre
Along with Miller and Fletcher was one of the players United fans wanted most to be sold. Has had a contract extension, but with Evans and Pique coming through the ranks his position is the most under danger (as is Brown’s).
Chances: Not likely, but if he goes you can bet Newcastle will be taking him.
Wes Brown
Going through a bad patch of form but is well respected by team-mates and will be kept around for a couple of years more.
Chances: Zero.
John O’Shea
Hasn’t played as much as last year but is the ultimate utility player - he could probably do a passable Alan Smith impression by playing upfront.
Chances: Not happening.
Kieran Richardson
Could be a surprise sale, but I doubt that Manchester United will let him go so early. I did think that this would be his breakthrough year but thanks to the form of Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes he’s had little chance to play. Will definitely get a look in over Christmas, but if he’s going to go, he’ll probably go in two years, if he doesn’t improve.
Chances: Not likely.
Alan Smith
He doesn’t want to go, and you cannot deny his passion, but he’s an extra player that we don’t need right now. Should be kept for his heart, but could be one of those to be culled, either in January (with Dong, Rossi and Larsson coming in, Manchester United will have 7 strikers, one will have to go) or next summer.
Chances: Possible.
Chris Eagles
The most likely player to be sold, unless he does a miraculous turn around like Fletcher and . All signs point to another Liam Miller though, and Keano’s probably waiting for January to raid Manchester United for players and loan deals.
Chances: Likely.
That’s it for me - what do you guys think?
- Saha’s and Heinze’s future at Manchester United
- Manchester United January Transfer Budget
- Manchester United keeping Ronaldo, after Deco, Hargreaves a done deal?
- January 2 - Transfers so far
- Club Loyalty vs Player Ambition
Discussion - 14 Responses
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John O’Shea must go - its painful to see him play for united. Not good enough at all. I would happily see him go on a free just so he wouldn’t be able to play for united again.
Alan Smith hasn`t had a good season so far, but i think he will be a important player if he can return to the form he had at the start of the 2004/05 season. I think he needs time, and he should not be sold
Brown leaving could be a bigger possibility than is considered, I think. If he’s ever going to achieve anything other than being a substitute, I think he’ll have to go. Newcastle could come calling for him too, considering their shaky defence. I doubt he’d go to Spurs, as he would be in exactly the same position as at United if he did with Dawson and King being the cemented pairing in the centre.
Chris Eagles is make-weight, I agree. He’s not developed at all out on loan. A good championship player, not a premiership player.
I think most United fans want Smithie to stay, but the rumours of him going to Bayern on loan in a sweetener for the Hargreaves deal interests me. 6 months in another league in a top team to get his fitness back and in the summer he comes back with Hargreaves would be ace.
I also hope that Dong and Rossi get their chances now too. Dong deserves it having stayed in Belgium for 3 years. It must have been tough on the boy to be almost completely alone over there, so he deserves a shot and I think he could be a quality forward for us.
I think Howard will go sometime in the future, he isnt good enough for a regular start and isnt bad enough to sit on the bench permanently, probably gone in the summer. I think Bardsley is likely to be the Neville substitute and didnt seem half bad when he filled in last season, so dont think he will go just yet. There are reports of a Heinze Gattuso switch, and as much as i love gabby, evra has proved pretty good, so its a question of what we need more and i hate to think he might leave. Richardson i though would be the ideal giggs replacement but as anyone who saw the Carling Cup games he isnt doing so much and with nani rumoured to be on his way in, his future looks bleak. And as for smudge, as much as i love the guys work ethic and passion, he is the most likely high profile player to be sold, he is just more than we need. Godspeed to him where ever he lands up. Other than that i think a large number of young and fringe players might be axed. Good article.
I cant see Simpson going. He’s a good prospect and deserves more time to blossom at United. As for Silvestre, well I don’t rate him but I can’t see him leaving unless he wants to, the same applys to Wes Brown. They’d get first team football elsewhere.
Richardson in my eyes is nowhere near good enough for United and he won’t make it at United. We need to buy better back back up, but until we do he’ll stick with United.
Wes, Silvstre, Eagles and Richardson are the picks to be sold for me. Barsdley’s on the brink too if he hates the bench like Brown does nowadays……..
I’m definitely sure we don’t need Mikael Silvestre,Danny Simpson,Chris Eagles and Bardsley. I would prefer to see some young and talented players such as Fabregas (how could Sir Alex miss such a Wonder Kid?!) or Robinho. We need to form the future squad; thank God we have Rooney and Ronaldo! I hope Sir Alex Ferguson will make a wise decision and in January we see some very perspective faces.
Howard is on the way out i think. he doesnt want to warm the bench and wont get first team football at OT.
there may be a question over Bardsleys temperment as he was more or less thrown out of rangers. he has ability but has he the right temperment?
there arent many players who can play in the same ammount of positions as O Shea and he can give us extra options on the bench. he wont be sold for his versatility.
Lee Martins impressed me in the pre season games and struck me as one for the future. he has alot going for him and i hope he stays.
i woulnt be sorry to see Richardson go either. he must show something in training but for me he isnt hungry enough on the pitch. his attitude seems to be all wrong.
Silvestre is more likely to cost you a game then win you one. he is too haphazard for my liking and i think we should sell him now while we can get something for him.
Smith should be given a chance too.
i think silvestre has no more future at united cause i rather have brown as central than him, remember heinze can do that too, with 2 left back there is no place for him (silvestre), the others: rossi, david jones, richardson its better to get them on loan cause they have no chance of first team.
I cant beleive Fergie isn’t considering Scott Brown and Steven Whitaker of Hibs . Brown is miles better than Carrick
will ever be and can score goals and he has loads of pace. Whitaker can make some amazing runs and is much better than the past it Neville. They would be real bargain finds for United.They are both young and would be instant hits with the fans.
ahmed u alive m8?
Fletcher MUST GO! he shows us all kinds of pathetic every game he plays
Danny Simpson is one of the biggest prospects we have at youth/reserve level! I doubt your credentials to offer anything substantial on even the simplest United topics.
My choices to be shown the door (without hesitation) would be Fletcher (still useless and totally inconsistent, has had so many chances to prove himself and still comes up well short), O’Shea (had enough of watching him stumble around midfield), Richardson (definite member of the Bently Brigade), Smith (not good enough) and Silvestre (another penalty anyone?). And please god, don’t buy Hargreaves because he is totally overated and not worth half of the alleged £20m fee.