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SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 22:  Adnan Januzaj (R) of Manchester United competes for the ball with Jacob Bruun Larsen of Borussia Dortmund
during the International Champions Cup match between Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund at Shanghai Stadium on July 22, 2016 in Shanghai, China.  (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 22: Adnan Januzaj (R) of Manchester United competes for the ball with Jacob Bruun Larsen of Borussia Dortmund during the International Champions Cup match between Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund at Shanghai Stadium on July 22, 2016 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Adnan Januzaj, Top Rumours

James DudkoAug 9, 2016

Adnan Januzaj is reportedly close to moving from Manchester United to join fellow Premier League side Sunderland on loan. The Belgian winger would work with former Red Devils manager David Moyes, who is also said to have agreed deals to sign two young defenders from United.

Januzaj is hoping a move to Sunderland can revive his career after two very difficult seasons with United, according to the Daily Express. His issues have already been prevalent this summer since Jose Mourinho succeeded Louis van Gaal as manager.

The 21-year-old was reported to have refused to change with the reserve team after being dropped from the senior group by Mourinho, per Steve Bates of the Daily Mirror: "Last week at United’s Carrington complex it’s believed on one occasion Januzaj changed for training with the reserves in a toilet adjacent to the Under-21 dressing room."

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Manchester United Scottish manager David Moyes (L) speaks to Manchester United's Belgium midfielder Adnan Januzaj (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest Englan

It's another sad chapter in Januzaj's decline since he emerged with considerable promise during the 2013/14 season. He performed well on Moyes' watch, showing a youthful bravado that left him unawed by the quality of the opposition.

Yet since then, the creative midfielder's development has stalled. He didn't make the most of what proved to be a brief and ill-fated loan spell at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund when Van Gaal was in charge at United.

It's been easy to question Januzaj's work rate and the commitment to add consistency to his obvious natural ability since. Moyes will hope he can reassert some of the influence that made Januzaj appear so initially promising.

The Belgian reportedly won't be the only one-time touted prospect looking to make an impact at Sunderland in the new season.

Fees Agreed for Paddy McNair and Donald Love

Sky Sports has reported fees have already been agreed to take youthful defenders Paddy McNair and Donald Love to Sunderland: "Sunderland are understood to be paying an initial £5m fee for McNair, which could rise to £7m, on a four-year contract while Love will cost the Black Cats £1m. Both players will have medicals in the north-east on Wednesday."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 02:  Louis van Gaal Manager of Manchester United shakes hands with Paddy McNair after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Watford at Old Trafford on March 2, 2016 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by S

The same report also noted how neither player actually made his United debut during Moyes' brief tenure. It was Van Gaal who fast-tracked both into the starting XI when injuries forced his hand.

Getting fees for two fringe players who haven't quite made the grade, nor who fit into Mourinho's plans, is decent business for the Reds. It's the start of a process aimed at trimming a bloated squad and recouping at least a fraction of the cash paid out during a summer of heavy spending capped by the recent world-record deal to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus, per BBC Sport.

Dumping two players from the academy could be viewed as a reversal of the values of promoting from within and giving youth it's chance. It's a philosophy United have often endorsed in the past.

Yet it's important to remember prospects shouldn't be kept around for the sake of it, particularly if there's no real place for them. So the new regime at United is right to at least trim the numbers to earn some nominal fees. 

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