lukaku: We need to man up
UNITED supporters are in favour of a defensive winter cull – and have lost patience with Alexis Sanchez.
Ahead of the January transfer window, M.E.N. Sport conducted a fan poll on the players the Reds should keep and sell, and fans have voted for six players to be sold – with five of them defenders.
More than 60 per cent of United fans have advised the club to cut their losses on Sanchez just 10 months on from his high-profile switch from Arsenal.
The forward, who turns 30 in December, has scored just four United goals and started one of the past six Premier League matches amid Anthony Martial’s upturn in form. Reds supporters have also despaired at the defensive alternatives available to manager Jose Mourinho, who was adamant the club needed a new centre-half in the summer.
A whopping 92.5 per cent voted to sell Matteo Darmian, while more than 80 per cent want rid of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones.
Rojo has played more times for Argentina than United since he signed a new contract in March.
Jones last figured in the Carabao Cup defeat to Derby on September 25.
Club captain Antonio Valencia’s popularity has also plummeted, with 64.7 per cent of fans in favour of jettisoning the 33-year-old in January.
Chris Smalling has started 10 of United’s 12 league games but 51.2 per cent want him gone in the mid-season window. Smalling’s regular playing time over the last 14 months has all but secured his United future until the summer, at the very least. Darmian, 28, wanted to leave in the summer but the Reds did not receive what they deemed to be an acceptable offer.
United attempted to jettison Rojo, 28, this year but the brittle Argentinian’s injury issues meant a proposed move to Everton collapsed. Jones, 26, is approaching the last six months of his contract.
Valencia is in the same contractual situation and a summer move is perhaps more feasible, despite his relationship breakdown with Mourinho.
Ashley Young stayed in the green by seven per cent and Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku amassed unconvincing ‘keep’ percentages.