Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Angel Di Maria to Be Sold, Pedro Targeted

Angel Di Maria's fledgling career in the Premier League with Manchester United is set to end in premature failure, with reports suggesting the Red Devils will cut their losses after a poor first season.

According to reports in Spanish newspapers Sport and Mundo Deportivo (h/t Jack Wilson in the Daily Star), the Manchester outfit are to let the 27-year-old Argentinian go in the summer—despite shelling out £59.7 million for him less than a year ago.

Di Maria has certainly been in poor form of late after a decent start to his career at United, and he was sent off in the Red Devils' 2-1 FA Cup sixth-round defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday.

The dismissal—correctly handed out by referee Michael Oliver per the FA's Mark Gilbert—was reportedly the "last straw" for United bosses, with Di Maria having dismally failed to repeat his world-beating form of last season with Real Madrid:

Di Maria's drop in form since a fast start to life at Old Trafford has been attributed by many to a break-in at his house in January, per the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel, which has seen the Argentina international relocate his family. 

It is often the case that players' form is seen as immune to exterior pressures, but it seems said incident has had a genuine and understandable effect on Di Maria's play.

That being the case, it would be foolish to ship off a player of Di Maria's talent so soon, as he arguably needs more time to settle before he can become the player he was at the Bernabeu, an attitude former Red Devil Rio Ferdinand shares, per Goal's Stefan Coerts:

"

I thought Di Maria was a great signing for United and I still think he was a good signing because he is a top player. He was arguably Madrid’s best player last year, him and Ronaldo were their standout players. I think he is a highly talented player. But it always takes time for a player to adapt to his new surroundings, especially when you go to a foreign league.

"

B/R UK's Alex Dimond believes that United will stick with Di Maria for the time being, especially considering the price they paid for him in the summer:

However, should he depart, a potential deal for Barcelona forward Pedro is being mooted by AS (h/t James Dickenson in the Express).  

According to the report, United are interested in signing up the 27-year-old Spaniard, who has bagged five goals and four assists in La Liga this season, per WhoScored.com.

If United do go in for Pedro, they may look to use funds from Di Maria, but it still seems unlikely at this stage.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Di Maria is more talented than Pedro and it would make much more sense to stick with the Argentinian at United than bank on an inferior player proving more effective in the Premier League.

Indeed, the idea of United getting rid of Di Maria at all seems short-sighted and unlikely, his price tag and career form surely granting him a stay of execution.