Transfer window: Manchester United's top targets

 

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.

 

ARJEN ROBBEN (Bayern Munich)

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 



Transfer market set for overdrive

By David Lee Wheatley

With only five days left before the transfer window slams shut on most of Europe this summer, a selection of massive deals are expected to come to fruition in order to facilitate a massive amount of movement between clubs of all sizes over coming days.

Many managers voiced their disapproval recently of a transfer period that goes on beyond the start of the domestic fixture calendar, but there’s no denying the excitement generated for fans up-and-down the country surrounding the subject of who their team will bring in and/or lose by 2 September.

Gareth Bale refused to train with Tottenham Hotspur in a row over the protracted nature of negotiations between his current club and suitors Real Madrid, as the Welshman bids to force through a dream switch to the Bernabeu and it’s expected to trigger a knock-on effect throughout the Premier League once Bale finally completes his move.

North London rivals Arsenal plan to introduce at least two top-class players to appease their restless fans, with Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria high up on Arsene Wenger’s wish-list. A deal for the Argentine winger largely depends upon Bale making it to Madrid and could be sealed quickly once Carlo Ancelotti gets his man.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have been linked with a plethora of potential signings, as have title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City. All appear ready and revved-up to pounce as deadline day approaches ever nearer on the horizon.

A little further down the pecking order, Newcastle United look set to sign two more strikers in the shape of Gomis from Lyon and old boy Demba Ba on loan from Chelsea, while the likes of West Brom, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Fulham and Cardiff City all pronounced their intentions to add more recruits to their respective squads if at all possible.

The biggest mooted deals have taken an age to resolve and some are seemingly off altogether, with Arsenal target Luis Suarez set to stay with Liverpool and Manchester United intent on holding on to Wayne Rooney, whom Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been courting all summer-long.

However, more mega-money transfers are in the offing and will begin the cascading of cash through the major leagues of European football, making for a very interesting last few days of the window as clubs prepare for the long-haul to January before they can buy again.

Twitter: @davewh1980

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Spurs will be better without Bale

By David Lee Wheatley

With a mystery rival bidding for the signature of Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale alongside long-time suitors Real Madrid, it seems certain the Welsh wizard will be on his way out of White Hart Lane before the transfer closes in seven days.

Matters seemed to be reaching a conclusion when Real began retailing 'Bale 11' emblazoned shirts at their online store prematurely last week following weeks of speculation, but the revelation earlier today surrounding a potential alternative has complicated the deal.

Wherever the former Southampton star ends up, his sale guarantees Spurs a massive pay-day to the tune of around £90million when he does eventually move on. The north London club have already spent a large chunk of the expected windfall through the introduction of new boys Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Nacer Chadli and are still looking for more recruits in an effort to off-set the likely loss of last season's PFA Player of the Year.

There's no doubting Bale's ability and influence on the team during the last couple of campaigns, but the over-inflated value currently placed on his head will allow Spurs to continue bringing in fresh blood to strengthen every department of the side. Bale is an extremely talented footballer, but Spurs will reap the benefits if they simply let him go.

Spain is calling and Bale's already there in his head, so the best decision at this stage is to agree to a switch and move quickly in search of a suitable replacement before deadline day. One possibility, Willian, appears to have chosen Jose Mourinho's Chelsea over Spurs and therefore Roma's Erik Lamela is now the front-runner to join up and offer the same attacking spark delivered by the outgoing Wales international in recent years.

If the cash already laid out by Tottenham represents the amount they planned to shell-out in any event, then their coffers will be recharged to a level which would open the way for them to secure at least three absolutely top-notch, world-class footballers for the price of one.

With that budget Tottenham were already set to spend in mind, plus the world-record fee on the verge of being banked for a prize asset, Spurs are about to experience their strongest financial position for an age and must acknowledge the fact they'll be markedly better off without Bale.

Twitter: @davewh1980

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