Bookmaker PaddyPower has installed wayward winger Nani as the betting favourite to be the next player to be sold by Manchester United. The Portuguese player is 2/1 to be given the Old Trafford boot by Sir Alex after United’s patchy start to the season and Nani’s poor performance against CSKA Moscow led to being substituted when 3-1 down.

The leading contenders in PaddyPowers football betting market mainly looks at a midfield department that so far this season is struggling for goals, creativity or in offering protection for United’s centre-backs. Michael Carrick’s failure on the big stages sees him as 6/1 second favourite whilst Anderson is 11/1 and Valencia 18/1. Dimitar Berbatov, another player many feel has yet to live up to his billing since arriving at United, is 18/1 to be the next moved on.

A spokesperson for the online bookmaker said: “Having been at the club since 2007 Nani has often been criticised for a failure to make much improvement during his time at United and is arguably the player who frustrates their fans more than any other. It certainly seems to be the midfield that has most room for improvement to get United back to the heights of recent seasons.”

Amongst the players who would appear the safest within United’s squad are Wayne Rooney and Edwin Van Der Saar who are an unlikely 28 and 33/1 to go next whilst ‘Mr Man United’ Ryan Giggs is 25/1.