As the January transfer window edges closer by the day, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must be thinking ahead and looking at what kind of business Manchester United should do come the New Year.
And just in case he isn’t completely sure who needs to be shown the exit door, Football FanCast gives you two players we feel should be shipped off as soon as possible.
Nemanja Matic
The 31-year-old Serbian midfielder looks way past his prime and Solskjaer should try and make some money for him in January before his contract runs out next summer – apparently there are no plans to offer him a new deal.
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With only 160 minutes played in the first 17 games in the Premier League and bearing in mind recent injury problems, there just doesn’t seem to be a place for Matic at Old Trafford anymore – especially now that Scott McTominay is now providing a similar presence in midfield through his sheer size and aggression.
At this point, it’s better to cut your losses and cash in if there’s an option to do so.
Phil Jones
It’s really difficult to make a sensible argument for Jones’ potential stay at the club when there are so many alternatives available at centre-back, not least including Marcos Rojo, Axel Tuanzebe and (when fit) Eric Bailly, in addition to first-choice duo Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
Jones has tallied 45 minutes of game time in the Premier League this season – he was subbed off at half time against Sheffield United – and mostly doesn’t even make the squad at all.
At the age of 27, you could argue that he still has some of his prime years to come but he’s never really proved over a consistent period that those should be played at a club of United’s stature.
