Patrice Evra set to leave Manchester United when contract ends in June

Manchester: Patrice Evra is set to leave Manchester United at the end of the season and the left-back is considering a move abroad.

While the United vice-captain is yet to make a final decision, Evra is out of contract at the end of June and the club have so far not offered him a further deal. The Frenchman will be 33 in May and David Moyes’ pursuit of a left-back to replace him as the first choice has made it clear where Evra stands in the manager’s plans, though the Scot remains an admirer of his abilities.

If Evra does to leave the champions, a return to Monaco, the French club from whom he joined United in January 2006, may appeal.

Moyes informed Evra in person some time ago that he intended to bring in competition for his position. While it is understood that Evra accepted the decision, the Frenchman has decided to explore his options. Moyes made a bid in the last transfer window for Leighton Baines and he retains a firm interest in his former charge at Everton, and also in Southampton’s Luke Shaw.

Other senior United players may leave in the close season. Nemanja Vidic, the captain, whose contract also expires then, is likewise yet to be offered further terms and is interesting Napoli. Last week his agent, Silvano Martino, said: “At the moment, I would rule out an extension with Manchester United.”

Rio Ferdinand, Vidic’s central defensive partner, who has lost his place in Moyes’s first XI, is also actively considering leaving United at the end of his 12-month contract in the summer. If Ferdinand does leave he may take up a lucrative offer abroad.

Meanwhile, Moyes was scouting for Juventus players, but also Cagliari defender Davide Astori, at the sides’ Serie A fixture on Sunday, according to Italian media reports.

Moyes did not respond to initial questions as to why he was at the Sant’Elia stadium, but media reports speculated that the Scot travelled to Sardinia to watch Juve players likely to be involved in a swap deal that would see United striker Nani join the Italian champions, as well as Astori.

Last week the Guardian reported that some of the senior players were unsure of Moyes’s methods.

Yet defender Rafael da Silva is clear that it is down to the squad and not the manager to do the convincing.

Asked about the atmosphere in the dressing room, the right-back referred to the departed Sir Alex Ferguson, who was not at this game, and said: “We are together. We knew there would be a change. The manager had just left after 27 years. It was always going to be hard. We have to take the mentality David Moyes has given us and use it on the pitch.”

Da Silva accepts there has been upheaval. “It is quite a big difference,” he said. “David Moyes has a strong mentality. He is doing his own job. We have to use that in a positive way.”

He added that that the focus should be on the players. “We are the ones who have to take the responsibility,” he said. “We have to show, like we did in the second half [in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Swansea]. I don’t know why everyone is looking at the manager. It is the players who have to do the job on the pitch.”

Darren Fletcher expressed dismay at the view that Ferguson’s presence at matches is affecting results. “It gets us angry because we know it is not true,” the midfielder said.

These are changing times for the champions under Moyes, who had overseen three consecutive losses yet whose relief at Saturday’s win over Swansea allowed him to reject any doubts about taking United to Chelsea on Sunday.

“What? With the players I have got here at this football club?” he said. “I have no fears whatsoever with the players I have got. I wouldn’t really care who plays in my team because I believe in them all. I believe in what this club stands for and they will go and take whatever challenge — and throw it forward.

“We will try and push on and try and continue to make progress.”

- Guardian News & Media Ltd