Marouane Fellaini has become a boo-boy for some sections of the club’s fans, and has never fully convinced anyone in his three years at Old Trafford that he possesses the quality to remain.
Signed from Everton for £27.5m in 2013, Fellaini spoke about how he wanted to be a midfield general in the mould of Roy Keane. He hasn’t been.
Apart from a spell of good form in the spring of 2015, the Belgian has generally underwhelmed.
He has made 103 appearances in his United career so far, which is around the same number of successful passes he’s made in that time, and came in for heavy criticism after giving away a penalty in the 1-1 draw with his old club at Goodison Park earlier this month.
Some United fans thought all their Christmases had come early when reports emerged earlier this week that Fellaini would be joining either AC Milan or Inter Milan in January.
The 29-year-old was even photographed in the Italian city, further fuelling speculation that he’s on his way out of Old Trafford.
However, according to Mark Ogden, ESPN’s senior football writer, Fellaini won’t be leaving United during the January transfer window at all, with Jose Mourinho reluctant to lose him.
The United manager has included the Belgian in 17 of his 27 matchday squads, and is understood to be impressed by his work-rate.
He is, however, prepared to let both Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin leave next month, with Everton the likely destination.
Fellaini has 18-months remaining on his contract, and ESPN say he will assess his options in the summer.
For United fans though, that might not be much of a consolation.
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