Adnan Januzaj Moving on Loan to Everton Would Benefit Him and Manchester United

Amid the bleakness of last season at Manchester United, there was at least one shining light, a pinprick of hope amid the grinding mediocrity of David Moyes' tenure.

Adnan Januzaj looked like a star, 18 years old and looked younger, but with a steel that belied his years and baby face. He was composed on the ball, had pace, used the ball intelligently, could glide past a man in a manner that was reminiscent of Ryan Giggs and could score goals.

He looked a complete player—or at least a complete player in the making, with basically every weakness one could identify in his game something that could be easily worked on, like his slight frame and so on.

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The obvious possibility is that last season was so dire for United that it was easy to overstate his abilities, that he looked much better by comparison amid the rest of this under-performing side, but even taking that into account, it is clear that Januzaj has plenty of talent.

This season, of course, has been as disappointing as last term was promising. As Rob Dawson wrote on Bleacher Report, he has started a mere two games under Louis van Gaal; the young Belgian partly a victim of circumstance as he doesn't fit in with the new manager's preferred system.

With Van Gaal seemingly set on playing three at the back, places for Januzaj are limited. He is not a wing-back, nor a central midfielder or striker, and there are several players ahead of him (Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria) in the No. 10 role pecking order.

Of course, it hasn't just been a new managerial approach that has done for Januzaj this season. On the few occasions he has played (his starts came against West Brom and Chelsea in October), he has looked anonymous, devoid of the spark that made him such an exhilarating player to watch last season.

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Again, that in part might not be his fault, given his lack of regular football. It will have been impossible for Januzaj to get any sort of rhythm to his play this season, with 20 minutes here, 15 minutes there in substitute appearances in which to state his case.

Therefore, with the injury crisis of almost comic proportions that has been so problematic for United this season clearing up, it would seem logical if Januzaj went out on loan somewhere to regain his form.

However, Van Gaal said in December that Januzaj would not be allowed to leave Old Trafford temporarily, quoted by Goal.com as saying, when asked about the prospect: "No. He is a player of United."

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Despite this, such a prospect has been heavily mooted in the last month or so, notably this week, with Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail reporting that Van Gaal will loan the youngster out, but he will not sell him as the manager recognises his player's talent.

So where could he go? Ian Herbert in the Independent suggested that PSG could be a potential destination, while John Cross in the Daily Mirror nominates Real Sociedad, Hull, Inter and Everton as possibles.

The most logical of those options, for all parties, would seem to be Everton. Roberto Martinez's side certainly could do with some sort of spark to get their season going, while his style of play would definitely fit with Januzaj's. Furthermore, Samuel Eto'o looks set to leave the club, meaning there is a space for another attacking player in the Everton squad.

And from United's perspective, Januzaj would stay in the Premier League and play for a decent, if perhaps under-performing club, and he would be under the watchful gaze of a manager in Martinez who has a record of showing faith with young players.

What is certain is that sitting on the bench, and sometimes not even that, is doing neither Januzaj nor United any good at the moment, so hopefully a temporary move somewhere will reinvigorate this highly promising young attacker.