Manchester United Transfer News: Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini Urged to Leave

Former Manchester United Premier League title winner Paul Ince believes midfielders Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini must leave Old Trafford. Ince thinks the current United regime is wasting the talents of both players.

Speaking to 888poker.com (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw), Ince stated how he feels Herrera is not suited to the rough and tumble of England's top flight: "I thought it was a lot of money and when I first saw him he was small and looked quite weak."

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Instead, Ince believes Herrera's qualities belong in Spanish football: "I’m not sure he’s going to be a regular in a Louis Van Gaal side and although he’s a very good player he’s just more suited to Spain. I watched him play in Spain and he suits the Spanish game but I don’t think he suits Manchester United."

That's a relevant thought considering La Liga giants Barcelona are currently linked with acquiring the Basque playmaker, according to Spanish source Don Balon (h/t Metro's Mark Brus).

Ince doesn't think current Old Trafford chief Louis van Gaal's system has room for a schemer like Herrera: "When he plays he gets forward and gets a couple of goals but Van Gaal has gone for two strong ones sitting in there and it’s hard for him to fit in."

Van Gaal has preferred a double layer of protection for United's defence at the base of midfield. He's tried different pairings from defensive-minded trio Michael Carrick, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin.

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Herrera is indeed the odd man out. His high level of technical flair can be wasted in a deep-lying role, and his scoring potential is also wasted in these areas.

Herrera has bagged three goals and as many assists for United in Premier League and UEFA Champions League action this season, according to ESPN FC. He's a player with the skill and potential to thrive as a No. 10 behind the strikers.

Sadly, Van Gaal's pragmatic formation and tactics rarely make room for this kind of so-called luxury player.

Finding a specific role has also been a problem for former Everton man Fellaini. Ince thinks the towering Belgian is undervalued by United:

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For a player of that ability to come on for the last ten minutes in every game more or less for just long balls... I think he’s better than that and he deserves a chance.

It’s also a sad indictment of United not creating enough chances when they have to throw him on and put balls into the box.

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It's tough to disagree with Ince in this case. Fellaini has always been a more capable player than his reputation as a feisty aerial menace indicates.

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He's an astute passer and an energetic ball winner all over the pitch. Those are qualities that would be major assets for United in the biggest games.

But Fellaini has been reduced to appearing for the under 21 side. He recently played against Liverpool and earned praise from coach Warren Joyce, who described his attitude as "first class," per Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News.

Pairing Fellaini's drive, tenacity and technique alongside a more reserved holding player like Carrick or Schneiderlin would give the Red Devils greater balance in the middle. Having one player sit deep and one act as a box-to-box destroyer, depending on the flow of possession, would provide United with ample numbers at the back and going forward.

Ince himself played in a similar setup when Roy Keane first joined the Red Devils back in the mid-1990s.

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One factor the ex-United skipper has overlooked is why United would want to move two key midfielders on at this stage of the season. The club is right in the thick of the title race, sitting third, just a point behind neighbours Manchester City.

With United also still in the Champions League, Van Gaal needs all his options available. At the very least, keeping both Herrera and Fellaini ensures they have a plan B and C for every match.

Fellaini can add physicality to midfield or be a target man up top. As for Herrera, his flair and creativity certainly offer more going forward than Van Gaal's platoon of holding players.

With up to three competitions still to play for, United should be able to sell Herrera and Fellaini on the idea they'll still earn plenty of playing time and contribute to landing silverware.

That should be enough to keep the pair around, at least until next summer.