Manchester United fell to their first defeat in Europe this season when they travelled to Basel to lose to a stoppage-time goal. The Red Devils are all but into the next round of the competition and it does not come as a surprise that Jose Mourinho is now desperately looking for players who can add further quality to an already impressive squad at Old Trafford.
A number of star players are linked with a move to the club but one player that is constantly linked with an exit is Belgium international Marouane Fellaini. Having moved to Manchester back in 2013 along with David Moyes from Everton, the 30-year old is a unique, thanks to his ability to play seamlessly all across the pitch.
In his time at Old Trafford, the former Everton man has played as a striker, as a CDM, as a support striker, and even as a part of the backline, all to good effect, and Mourinho, on more than one occasion, had special praise reserved for him.
However, the quality around him in the squad makes him a weak-link and he was linked with an exit in the summer transfer window. The manager revealed that he is not for sale and that he has a serious place in the squad this season. But 12 games into the campaign, Fellaini has made just three Premier League starts and is now wanted by a few clubs in January again.
Fenerbahce have been hot on his heels for a while now, but reports today claim that French giants PSG are ready to offer him a way out of Old Trafford. Reports in France suggest that the French Champions have offered the Belgium ace a pre-contract to sign him in the summer on a free-transfer.
Fellaini is out of a contract at the end of the season and judging by the amount of game time he has got this season, a move away from the club would be best for him. However, leaving a club like United can never be easy.
Mourinho has used him time and again in tough situations when United needed to shut down a slender lead or were chasing a game and more often than not, Fellaini has been effective. However, at 30, he is no longer a long-term option for Mourinho and it is hard to see him keep a place in the squad frequently next season.
He may not even be offered a contract extension at Old Trafford, as Mourinho is sure to spend big on a player who can replace him in the squad so it does not come as a surprise that teams are lining up for his services next summer.
As already mentioned, quitting a club with United’s history is never going to be easy but with PSG calling, Fellaini is sure to be tempted. So do you think Manchester United should let go of him, after five years and around 100 league appearances or does Fellaini have more to offer to the Red Devils?
