Arturo Vidal Current Team: Juventus Arturo Vidal should be our main transfer target. The best player in the world in his position, he can break up play, create and score goals. Exactly what our midfield has been missing. Chance of acquiring: 4/10 We would have to break our transfer record again to sign Vidal as he has a long term contract with Juventus until 2017. However Juventus have a clear wage structure and massive wage increase would be tempting for Vidal. The other big clubs would be circling if he became available and a bidding war isn’t something we want to get involved with. Vidal is the player that United’s midfield needs. Toni Kroos Current Team: Bayern Munich Toni Kroos formerly an attacking midfielder has been playing as a deep lying midfielder very much in the mould of Paul Scholes this season due to his opportunities being limited by the arrival of mega signing Mario Gotze. He has an eye for a pass and gets up and down the pitch. Chance of Acquiring: 7/10 David Moyes was pictured with Kroos’ agent on a recent trip to Germany. And with contract talks breaking down and only 18 months left to run on his contract Toni Kroos may be available in the summer for a fee around £25 million. The wages being offered aren’t up what he expects and with Robert Lewandowski arriving Pep Guardioala will be unable to play the ‘false number 9’ formation and therefore he won’t be able to keep all his midfielders happy. Toni Kroos with his contract running down may look to a team with a dire need for a central midfielder. *cough* Us *cough* Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus Current Team: Borussia Dortmund Gundogan would be ideal he is a box to box midfielder but has been hampered by back injuries this season and Madrid have been glancing seductively in his direction. Reus is a winger who can cut in on his right foot and produce magic. Chance of Acquiring: Gundogan 6/10 Reus 3/10 Gundogan would be ideal as long as the back injury doesn’t persist. And with his contract only having 18 months left to run Dortmund could be tempted into a cash + player deal involving Kagawa to avoid another Lewandowski situation. Reus would be much more difficult this summer. He has a £30 million clause that comes into play in 2015 and even then the world’s elite would queue up to sign him. Luke Shaw or Felipe Luis I believe that Luke Shaw is the better option but less likely. Luke Shaw, although very talented for a young English player, will cost in the region of £25 million pounds which is absolutely ludicrous for a LB even if it would be an investment. As a Chelsea fan he has already been earmarked as Ashley Cole’s successor. Felipe Luis has been a key component of Atletico Madrid’s success and he is very similar to Gabriel Heinze, street wise and no nonsense. He is better defensively than Evra but not as proficient when going forward. Although 10 years older than Shaw, he would be significantly cheaper and hold down the position for the next four years. Shaw would be more longer term and hold down the position for the next decade. A quick fix or building for the future? We will have to see. The next two positions depend on varying factors. The centre back position depends on how highly you rate Smalling and Jones. I rate them very highly so I don’t believe it’s a position that need a large amount of attention. The centre forward position depends on RVP’s fitness. If he stays fit and Hernandez is happy to do the “Ole” role the position won’t need strengthening. If we we’re to strengthen those positions I’d look at Eliaquam Mangala of Porto. A commanding presence in the box who dominates each situation he is in. Portuguese clubs are famous for making huge profits on players and Mangala will be no exception. It would take £30 million plus to prise him away but like when we brought Rio in 2002 it would be an investment on a player who may become one of the best centre backs in the world. With Chelsea set on Kurt Zouma from St Etienne our chances of signing Mangala would be greatly increased. 6/10 In regards to upfront Karim Benzema of Real Madrid could provide United with an unorthodox solution. A fantastic goal scorer who isn’t appreciated at Madrid because of the marvel that is Cristiano Ronaldo. With time on his side at the age of 26, he would be my choice if we had to buy a centre forward. He wouldn’t be expensive and it would be a straight back up to RVP. And with financial fair play coming into the minds of those at the top echelons of the big clubs, Madrid would need to further balance the books by offloading players to get any new signings in and Benzema may be one viewed as expendable. With an average age of 24 this team has a good mix of experienced internationals reaching their peak and young up and coming talents. The 4-2-3-1 allows fluid interchange between the three behind the striker. It can also be easily interchanged into a more wide formation with Valencia coming in on the right hand side. And for European ties it can be altered to a 4-5-1. Also in the midfield there is the right blend of creative, destructive and industrious players who will be up and down the pitch. The squad has plenty of options and with some of the reinforcements this is a team capable of winning major honours.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 03:16:41 +0000
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