MANCHESTER UNITED TRANSFER TARGETS 2014: DEFENSIVE ARRIVALS: Luke Shaw (Southampton) £27 million Well, United’s interest in acquiring this Southampton player is not a secret anymore. The player too has given indications of wanting to move to the Old Trafford club, but Southampton Football Club doesn’t feel obliged, not as yet anyway. Perhaps, Southampton are waiting to appoint a new manager and the wheels will finally start churning after the World Cup is done and dusted, but at the moment the Shaw to United transfer has gone into a limbo. Daley Blind (Ajax) £12 million Blind to United has been in the news lately owing to his Dutch connections, and also due to the proposed Shaw move not moving ahead. For what it’s worth, Blind is a decent option and provides cover both in central midfield and in defense. At the quoted price the move makes a lot of sense, however if Luke Shaw does arrive and with Evra signing on a contract extension, Blind just as a central midfield option might not make the cut. Matt Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) £30 million Hummels has been rumored to be United’s first priority to strengthen their ailing central defense. The Borussia Dortmund star is one of the top Center Backs in world football and the German club are a top side themselves. Dortmund do not need the cash, and with United not in the European competitions this season, Hummels doesn’t actually have a strong reason to make the move. United could try to lure the player with better wages and if they succeed it would prove to be a real coup. But as things, United will find it hard to get their man. Eliaquim Mangala (Porto) £36.5 million The Frenchman has been rumored to want the move to Old Trafford, although Man City are actually the ones after him. United do rate the Porto player, but his high release clause has put them off. Also, United hierarchy are looking at a more experienced player to guide the young Center Backs in the squad. Mangala is just 23 and although potentially brilliant, he isn’t yet the finished product. United want a proven player to take over the reins from Vidic and Ferdinand. Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) £10 million Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, strangely. The story has been gathering momentum and has been reported in major newspapers. Vermaelen has lost his starting place at the Emirates and is available at a relatively cut- down price. Some other names like Bruno Martins Indi and Mehadi Benatia too have been mentioned in some quarters. CENTRAL MIDFIELD OPTIONS: Kevin Strootman (Roma) £30 million Very strongly linked with United despite his injury vows, Strootman is a Van Gaal favorite and the Old Trafford club should have probably signed him last summer. Now, United will try again but Roma could play hard ball. United might have to wait till the winter transfer window to finally sign their man. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) £20 million Almost every Bayern player has been linked with United the past month, but lately only the Bastian story has continued. LVG’s connection with Bayern has caused most of these linkups; however there is a school of thought that thinks that Pep Guordiola doesn’t view Schweinsteiger as the integral cog in his midfield. Also the Bayern midfielder is no spring chicken and as a result the Bavarians might be ready to sell at the right price. Nevertheless, it’s all conjecture at the moment and the mystery will only be resolved after the world cup. United would be delighted if they could land the German international as Schweinsteiger is a class apart to any midfielders United has on its roster. Arturo Vidal (Juventus) £50 million Van Gaal is a fan and he has been quoted that Vidal was a transfer target during his Bayer Levrkusen days. Vidal is Juventus’s most important player along with Pirlo, and to persuade the Italians to part with their prized asset would require a lot of cash. 50 million might make the Italians budge, but Juventus boss Antonio Conte has vowed to keep the Chilean in Turin. Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich) £30 million Billed as United’s primary target, Kroos to United rumors have all but died. It is rumored that Real Madrid are now leading the chase to sign immensely talented Bayern player. United’s inability to qualify for European competition has been their undoing. Other notable linkups include Alex Song from Barcelona and Madrid’s Khedira. Attacking Reinforcements: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona) £30 million Apparently Barca are willing to listen to offers for Sanchez, and United are one of the few leading the chase to sign the Chilean. Juventus too are in the running but if Van Gaal wants Sanchez, United can get their man in a bidding war with the Italians. Sanchez is a fabulous player and is tailor-made for the Premier league. United should go all out in their endeavor and get Alexis to Old Trafford. Edinson Cavani (PSG) £40 million
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:14:10 +0000
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