Manchester United Transfer News: Players Who Should Make Way for New Signings

As exciting as the prospect of new arrivals may be for fans of a club like Manchester United, it's often the departures that decide just how big the team's transfer prospects can be.

With squad space limited and not everyone performing to specification, the Red Devils have a number of names whose mention might warrant scrutiny this season.

Looking to not just the January transfer window but also further ahead in certain cases, here are some of those faces that David Moyes may consider letting go of in 2014 so that superior alternatives may thrive in their Old Trafford absence.

Anderson

Anderson's time at the Theatre of Dreams has been a constant struggle for validation.

Since his days at Gremio, the big-money acquisition from Porto has been tipped for big things but has never really reached the heights expected of him.

Initially heralded as the South American Roy Keane, the 25-year-old's place within Moyes' squad looks uneasy at best with only two Premier League starts to his name this term and central midfield being one of the most critical positions under the manager's list of priorities.

Marouane Fellaini's arrival has already served in providing United with added engine-room competition, but the resources would be freed up for further improvements were Anderson to be shipped on.

Earlier in December, the Mirror's John Cross wrote that Porto were once again rumoured to be considering a swoop for their former charge, albeit only on loan.

Rio Ferdinand

The latest of Sir Alex Ferguson's old guard to begin showing his age of late is Rio Ferdinand, slowly migrating out of the Red Devils' first team and with retirement seeming like more and more of an inevitability in 2014.

Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic and Phil Jones have begun to take precedence in Moyes' team, with 35-year-old Ferdinand grabbing just seven league appearances so far this term.

In kind, the Telegraph's Mark Ogden has reported that it will be Moyes who is bound to draw the ire of some by not offering the centre-back a new deal, but it's the correct decision with so many other options in the squad just waiting to shine in defence. 

One United fan recently praised the Ferdinand-less Red Devils' defence, with some promise in the club's other options:

Nani

Like fellow 2007 arrival Anderson, Nani's Old Trafford tale has been one of not living up to expectations, with the last two seasons being particularly poignant in that debate.

The Portuguese winger's involvement has been limited by injury this season, but it's ultimately a lack of production that's blighted the 27-year-old most, which is only excusable for so long at a club like United.

One of several wingers falling short of the mark this season, Ben Burrows of the Mirror recently hinted that a January move to Juventus could be on the cards, with no particular attention paid to the forward's five-year contract extension signed just this summer.