Man Utd Transfer News: David Moyes Plots Red Devils Clearout In January?

Premier League champions Manchester United could clearout as many as ten first-team players as David Moyes weighs up a major overhaul of the Old Trafford squad.

According to the Manchester Evening News, senior Red Devils names, fringe players and struggling performers could all face the axe as United's title defence falters.

Moyes suffered consecutive home defeats in four days to former club Everton and then Newcastle United at the weekend. These losses have left the champions 13 points and eight places behind league leaders Arsenal.

Veteran defenders Rio Ferdinand, 35, and Patrice Evra, 32, are the first names linked with exiting Old Trafford in the local press. Ferdinand has to be carefully managed and can no longer play every game, so he could retire at the end of the season.

MEN's United writer Stuart Mathieson describes reported target Leighton Baines as "casting a shadow" over French left back Evra since Moyes took charge.

Wingers Nani, Ashley Young and Wilfried Zaha could also be moved on as this trio have failed to nail down a first-team spot this term. Brazilian midfield player Anderson meanwhile is consistently linked with moves away from the Red Devils.

The impact of Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez is also in question. Neither player is understood to be happy with their respective roles of filling in wide left or as impact sub.

Homegrown United players Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck have also come in for criticism from their supporters. Moyes may thus take the opportunity in subsequent transfer windows to put his mark on the Red Devils.

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