There has been a lot of speculation ever since David Moyes took over as Sunderland boss that he would return to Old Trafford to bring some of the players he worked with there to the Stadium of Light.
The two names that dominated the newspaper columns and transfer live-blogs were naturally Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj, as the big hairy Belgian was inflicted upon United by Moyes, and the small moody Belgian looked like a future superstar playing under the Scotsman.
Sky Sports News today revealed that fees have been agreed with Man United for two players to join Sunderland, but it's not Fellaini or Januzaj. Instead, two youngsters that featured under Louis Van Gaal will be making the switch like so many before them, as Paddy McNair and Donald Love are expected to enter personal discussions with Moyes and Sunderland.
Sky sources: Sunderland agree fee with Man United for Paddy McNair & Donald Love. #SSNHQ
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) August 9, 2016
Sunderland fans can be forgiven for being a little disappointed, but Paddy McNair has shown that he does have the potential to be a solid Premier League defender despite being a little raw, and Donald Love comes with a good reputation from United's youth setup having made his first-team debut last season, so they could go on to be a good bit of business.
Bizarrely, some rival fans are trying to criticise Mourinho for selling more young players, however no fans of the club will be too upset to see either McNair or Love depart.
What it does do is reduce the number of Irish or Northern Irish players at Manchester United, and in terms of representing the first team, then McNair was the only one to play since Jonny Evans which suggests that a once-strong tradition appears to be fading away.
