Manchester United Confirm Cleverley Departure To Extend Van Gaal Cull To 17 Players

Manchester United have confirmed the departure of midfielder Tom Cleverley to Aston Villa on a season-long loan, extending Louis Van Gaal's clear-out to 17 players.

The deal was struck late on transfer deadline day on Monday but the clubs have finally received the approval of Premier League's board and the midfielder will spend the season at Villa Park.

"Aston Villa have signed Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley on a season-long loan," United confirmed on the club's official website.

"A deal was agreed before the transfer deadline on Monday night for the England international to move to the Midlanders, but was only confirmed on Tuesday afternoon."

Cleverley becomes the 17<sup>th player who has left the club since the beginning of the van Gaal era.

The new boss has completed a huge overhaul in the hope of moving on from a nightmare campaign with six new additions and 17 departures.

Van gaal has bolstered all areas of the squad, spending around £160m on Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao. However he has also parted ways with 17 players.

Legend Ryan Giggs hung up his boots to join him as an assistant while United's trio of defensive veterans - Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra - left the team earlier in the summer to join Inter Milan, QPR and Juventus respectively.

Danny Welbeck joined Arsenal on deadline day for around £16m, Shinji Kagawa returned to Borussia Dortmund for £7m, Alessander Buttner signed for Dinamo Moscow for £4m, Bebe moved to Benfica for £2m and Nani went on loan to his former team Sporting Lisbon as part of the Rojo deal.

Meanwhile United have also loaned unsettled the Javier Hernandez to Real Madrid as well as Wilfried Zaha to Crystal Palace, Angelo Henriquez to Dinamo Zagreb and keeper Vanja Milinkovic to Vojvodina.

Promising academy duo Nick Powell and Michael Keane have been loaned to Leicester and Burnley to gain Premier League experience while Tom Lawrence move to Leicester for around £1m.