By David Lee Wheatley
There’s a massive rebuilding job to do
at Manchester United Football Club and hugely experienced Dutchman Louis van
Gaal has been entrusted with undertaking the gigantic task ahead. Many current
stars will leave through the doors of Old Trafford over the course of this summer,
including stalwarts Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. With turmoil surrounding
the club following such an awful season last time out under the doomed
leadership of David Moyes and the recent arrival of a new manager with fresh
ideas, this will be period of substantial change for the Red Devils. With that
in mind, I take a look at some of the new faces we could potentially see in a
United shirt come August, as the Premier League heavyweights attempt to mount a
challenge for domestic honours that remained way out of their reach throughout
the disappointing 2013/14 campaign.
Louis van
Gaal’s fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben has been earmarked as one of his new club’s
priorities during this transfer window and the 30-year-old could be interested
in a switch to United in order to play under his current national team boss. Their
links go way back, with Van Gaal responsible for taking the flying winger to
Bayern back in 2009, as they proceeded to win the Bundesliga title in their
first season together in Germany. Robben has continued to blossom in Bavaria on
the right-hand side of their potent forward line, creating havoc with his
darting runs, accurate crossing and ruthless eye for goal. Having already
featured in the Premier League for Chelsea in the past, the ex-Real Madrid man
might be tempted to try his luck on these shores once more having won
everything possible during his five-year stint in Munich.
LUKE SHAW (Southampton)
At 18, Luke
Shaw is the latest in a long line of impressive graduates from the Southampton
academy ranks and he’s made a significant impression on their commendable top-half
league finish this season, while forcing his way into England’s World Cup squad
ahead of the vastly experienced Chelsea wing-back Ashley Cole. It’s been a
campaign of several stunning highs for the teenager and could now be capped off
nicely with a move to Manchester United for around £25 million, with the player
himself said to have already advised friends he is on the verge of joining the
Red Devils. Usual full-back mainstay Patrice Evra has not been offered a new
contract, while current understudy Alex Buttner fails to inspire much
confidence at the very highest level. Therefore, it is imperative van Gaal
brings in an energetic replacement as soon as possible, with the marauding Shaw
fitting the bill perfectly.
TONI KROOS (Bayern Munich)
£20
million-rated central midfielder Toni Kroos has long been on Manchester
United’s wish-list and recent reports suggest an agreement was struck during
the Moyes era for the German international to transfer from Bayern during this
close-season. Having changed managers in the meantime, it was possible that
latest incumbent to the role van Gaal could have vetoed the move, but he
evidently has high hopes for the stylish Kroos after apparently giving his
blessing to the deal. The 24-year-old is approaching 50 caps for his country
and has been regularly involved at club level under both Jupp Heynckes and Pep
Guardiola. Additionally, he also played under van Gaal for one term following a
year out on loan at Bayer Leverkusen during the Dutch supremo’s first year in
the Bayern hot-seat. If media announcements swirling around the player’s future
are to be believed, the pair wlll be reunited at United next season.
CESC FABREGAS (Barcelona)
Another
long-term target Cesc Fabregas could be brought in as an attack-minded midfield
partner for prospective new signing Toni Kroos, should United’s enduring
pursuit of the Catalan finally come to fruition this year after their initial
courtship came to nothing last summer. David Moyes was desperate to add the
former Arsenal star to his ranks throughout the 2013 close-season window, but
eventually failed to deliver the Barca star’s signature and ended up settling
for a lesser talent in the shape of Belgian Marouane Fellaini. Having flopped
badly last season, he could be on the way out to pastures new, while the likes
of Fabregas and Kroos could be handed the midfield mantle alongside the
reliable contributions of Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick. Fabregas is an
intelligent footballer who shone brightly during his time with the Gunners despite
some troubles finding his best form at Barcelona; he is eminently capable of
reproducing his sparkling form of the past back in the Premier League.
EDINSON CAVANI (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Uruguayan
forward was a qualified hit with Napoli, scoring 78 goals in 104 league
appearances during a three-year stay at the San Paolo. However, his big-money
move to PSG has seen him played out of position as a winger, when he much
prefers featuring as a central striker on his own or in tandem with another.
Superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds that position as a lone striker; promises
made to Cavani on signing that he would play alongside the Swede in a
potentially explosive strike partnership were broken and the imagined
two-pronged attack never materialised. Again, Manchester United have been
fervent fans of the long-haired 27-year-old for some time, with strong rumours circulating
that Cavani will indeed swap Paris for the north-west of England in search of
his favoured ‘number 9’ role.
MARIO MANDZUKIC (Bayern Munich)
Yet another
Bayern star linked with a move to the Premier League is Croatian striker Mario
Mandzukic, who is rumoured to be unhappy with the stop-start nature of his
involvement in the Die Roten starting line-up under Pep Guardiola. He may feel
the time is right to experience a new challenge in England, with several top
clubs said to be checking on his availability including Arsenal and Chelsea. On
top of the fact that Mandzukic has often been forced to play second fiddle to a
midfielder such as Thomas Muller taking his spot up-front, he has also
witnessed the transfer saga surrounding lethal Borussia Dortmund striker Robert
Lewandowski drag on for months prior to an understanding being found earlier
this year. With the Pole likely to become first choice at the Munich giants
once his career there begins in earnest, it could spell the end of the
ex-Wolfsburg star’s time at the club. However, his goalscoring record with
Bayern is mightily impressive and he would be a magnificent asset for United
should such a transfer take place.
Whoever does
come in, they all must be of an extremely high standard in order for the team
to dismiss the last campaign as a mere blip and resume their serial position of
title challengers, while also regaining a European Champions’ League into the
bargain. It’s sure to be a busy summer at Old Trafford, so watch this
space!
Twitter: @davewh1980
