Jose Mourinho has admitted that Ashley Young could part ways with Manchester United come the end of the transfer window.
After a shock 2-1 defeat against Hull City in the EFL Cup, Manchester United returned to winning ways with an emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Championship side Wigan in round 5 of the FA Cup.
Much-maligned midfielder Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring for the hosts in the dying stages of the first half, while defender Chris Smalling added another on the other side of the break to double his side’s advantage.
It was then time for veteran Bastian Schweinsteiger to weave his magic as he turned provider for United’s third goal which was scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, before he found the back of the net himself with an impressive overhead strike.
Today:
Schweinsteiger—assist
Mkhitaryan—goalFreedom. ? pic.twitter.com/j9JWIcsYJj
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) January 29, 2017
The German has been left out in the cold for the majority of this season, and only recently returned to manager Jose Mourinho’s first team plans. The Portuguese handed him his first start since over a year, and he duly repaid the faith in him.
After the game, the United boss was quizzed as to whether or not Schweinsteiger would stay put in Manchester come the end of the transfer window. The club’s official website quoted him as saying:
“He is staying and he is going on the Europa League list because we opened spaces with [Memphis] Depay and [Morgan] Schneiderlin leaving. Ninety minutes today was probably too hard for him but it was important for him to have an impact with his volley and now I think he’s happy.
“If he was a good professional when he was not playing, now he’s having some minutes and opportunities he’s going to be the same good professional. With so many matches and competitions, he’s going to be an option.”
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss also gave an additional insight on the transfer front pertaining to the impending exit of outcast Ashley Young. The winger cum full-back has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, and Mourinho has confirmed that he could leave the club shortly.
“Ashley is a player I would love to keep. I am not happy he is leaving,” said the Portuguese in the post-match press conference.
Young is expected to be the third player, after Depay and Schneiderlin, to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window. The Englishman’s last league start came on the 6th of November, and he has grown frustrated by the lack of first-team football.
The 31-year-old recently stated that he was desperate for a loan move, but it now appears that he could leave the club on a permanent basis. Chinese side Shandong Luneng are known suitors for the former Aston Villa star while a host of Premier League clubs are also reportedly vying for his signature.
