Manchester United Boss Louis van Gaal Ready to Sell Marouane Fellaini

Manchester United are prepared to cut their losses and offload Marouane Fellaini less than a year on from his arrival at the club.

The Belgian midfielder became David Moyes' first signing as United boss on transfer deadline day last year when he arrived from Everton for a fee of £27.5m, making him - at the time - the club's fourth most expensive player of all time.

However, Fellaini endured a disastrous first season at Old Trafford as a mix of injury and poor form saw him become a microcosm of Moyes' failed efforts to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at the United helm.

New manager Louis van Gaal will not take up official duties at Old Trafford until after Netherlands' World Cup campaign but the 62-year-old has already informed chief executive Ed Woodward of his intentions to rebuild the current United squad.

The Dutch coach has his eye on about five new additions but will also make sweeping changes to the 30-man squad used by Moyes last season and will begin that overhaul by disposing of Fellaini.

The Times suggest the 26-year-old is to become the first major casualty as Van Gaal begins to stamp his authority on the United squad and will urge the club to listen to offers of around £15m for the former Standard Liege midfielder.

While major movement in the coming weeks is unlikely with many of the players in question away on World Cup duties, Van Gaal is likely to make further cuts to his squad with United's playing schedule far lighter next season than in previous years given their non-participation in European football competitions.

Javier Hernandez, Antonio Valencia, Shinji Kagawa, Ashley Young and Darren Fletcher are also names likely to be considered surplus to requirements in Van Gaal's Old Trafford revolution.

Southampton full-back Luke Shaw is likely to be the first addition under the Van Gaal regime. The 18-year-old is understood to have told his club on the final day of last season about his desire to join United after a £27m bid was made.