Manchester United: 5 Players the Red Devils Should Sell This Summer

With Manchester United and "noisy neighbours" City neck-and-neck in the Premier League title race, a 20th league title triumph could be on the way for the Red Devils.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, however, needs to freshen up his side if the Old Trafford club's dominance is to continue into next season.

These are the player that should be released to create room for incoming players.

Michael Owen

The former Liverpool striker is no longer the force he was a decade ago. The 32-year-old joined Manchester United in the summer of 2009, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal. He has since made just 52 appearances for the Red Devils.

However, he has a fairly impressive goal return, having scored 17 times. Troubled with injuries, Owen has been reduced to a bit-part player, and his services are seemingly no longer needed by the Red Devils. In the current campaign, the former England international has played just four times. With his contract expiring in June, do not expect to see Owen in United's colours next season.

Rio Ferdinand

Considered one of the best defenders of his generation, the Englishman has been a key player for Manchester United. The 6''2" star joined United in 2002 for a then-British transfer record of £30 million.

Despite a one-year suspension for failing to undergo a drug test rocking his United career early on, the former Leeds United star bounced back and repaid the Old Trafford faithful's faith with rock-solid displays at the heart of the United backline.

He went on to form a near-impermeable partnership with Nemanja Vidic, leading the Red Devils to several trophy triumphs. Now 33, Ferdinand is at the tail end of his career, especially with his frequent injuries.

Dimitar Berbatov

The Bulgarian arrived at Old Trafford in 2008 from Tottenham for a fee of £30.75 million. However, he failed to live up to his price tag and would later fall out of favour with Sir Alex Ferguson.

His best season as a United player came last season, when he scored 21 goals in 42 appearances. But despite his goal tally, Berbatov failed to re-establish himself as a regular starter, with Ferguson instead opting for a Rooney-Hernandez pairing upfront.

Fans have also been critical of his "lazy" and slow style of play. He has only made 19 appearances this season, scoring nine times. He is, however, still behind Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez in the striking pecking order.

Tomas Kuszczac

The Pole has been a Manchester United player since his joining in 2008 from West Bromwich Albion.

He has, however, failed to prove himself as a top goalkeeper, and despite being former United No. 1 Edwin van der Sar's deputy, Kuszczac failed to step up as the Dutchman's replacement.

He is currently behind David De Gea, Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos in the goalkeeping pecking order at United. Currently on loan at Championship side Watford, a summer sale of the Pole would be a clever move on the Premier League champions' part.

Darren Fletcher

A Manchester United Academy graduate, the Scot broke into the first team in the 2003/04 season and has been with the club ever since.

The Scotland captain has, however, been in and out of the starting 11 since then, in most part due to his inconsistent form.

He has so far made 302 appearances, with 23 goals to his name.

The 28-year-old has only played 10 times this season, and has been out of action since November due to a virus (ulcerative colitis). His return date remains unknown.

With United over-reliant on veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, more midfield reinforcement is needed. Fletcher's sale could be necessary in order to bring in a world-class replacement.