Defeat in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea brought down the curtain on a mediocre Manchester United season that looks likely to have Jose Mourinho reaching for his axe.
According to ESPN, one of the first to feel the cold steel of the blade could be Daley Blind, with the Dutch defender reportedly resigned to leaving Old Trafford this summer. Omitted from the FA Cup final squad, the 28-year-old made just two starts in 2018.
Asked about his future by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Blind replied: “We’re going to think about it in the holidays… I certainly will not make a panic transfer, because it is not guaranteed that I will play at a new club.
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“We have to wait, but it seems logical that I wasn’t satisfied with the second half of the season. So first I’ll go on vacation and then put all the possibilities next to each other.”
Blind arrived at United in a £13.8m move from Ajax in 2014, but injury and loss of form have reduced him to a peripheral figure at the club. According to ESPN, United are now “open to offers this summer amid interest from Roma, Inter Milan and Ajax”.
The Daily Express backs that claim, citing reports by Spanish media that Barca are after Blind in order to strengthen their back four, where Jordi Alba is their only current option at left back.
Also likely to be asked to clear out his locker at Old Trafford is Matteo Darmian, with Juventus expected to sign the defender. Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport says that the 28-year-old will be Juve’s first signing of the summer, after bosses there learned he “has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford”.
Darmian arrived in Manchester from Torino in 2015, but has made only five starts in the Premier League this season.
Juventus is expected to pay United around £11m for Darmian.
