Manchester United's summer transfer plans
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Almost anything could happen at Manchester United this summer. At this point one year ago, nobody would have expected Angel Di Maria to rock up at Old Trafford, let alone Radamel Falcao, so expect the unexpected.One key difference is that Louis van Gaal is now calling the shots so those arriving should come with his blessing. There is still plenty of money in the coffers, of course, and, with Memphis Depay already recruited for £23 million, the spending is only going to continue.
| TRANSFER TARGETS |
Nicolas Otamendi has emerged as a major, and perhaps most attainable, defensive target. Mats Hummels had been high - maybe even higher - on the list since last summer but appears to have given his word to Borussia Dortmund that he will stay another year, at least, although United believe that there may still be wiggle room.
Otamendi was the standout centre-back in Spain last season and United's interest, despite public insistence otherwise, is real, just as it was when he left Porto for Valencia initially on loan 18 months ago. Word from those in the know is that the Argentine wants to join United above any other club so the signs look positive, even if the Spanish side are demanding around £35m. His compatriot, Marcos Rojo, also appears very keen to seal the deal; last week he favourited a tweet asking him to tell Otamendi to hurry up and sign. The modern world, eh?
Elsewhere in the defence, interest in Nathaniel Clyne has gone truly cold. United had looked favourites to land the highly rated Southampton right-back, whose contract expires at the end of next year, but contact between the two parties has ceased in recent weeks and there is a fear that Liverpool are now in pole position.
With Dani Alves signing a new deal at Barcelona despite a big offer from United there is no obvious right-back target on the market. Matteo Darmian of Torino has been linked but Van Gaal may already have somebody in mind. "Maybe he shall be the right full-back of Manchester United for the next 10 years, you never know," said the Dutchman. "He has the chance." That man is Paddy McNair.
As revealed by Goal on Saturday, United's desire to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham is real. Widespread, well-sourced newspaper reports in May made public their interest in the youngster but, despite Spurs' immediate hands-off warning, Ed Woodward will tee off his interest by offering a number of players in a package worth up to £50m. It will certainly test Daniel Levy's resolve to keep hold of a fledgling Tottenham hero.
Reported interest in Benfica's Nico Gaitan is as curious as it is inevitable. Talk of United's fondness to sign the Argentine has surfaced every summer for the past three or four years and, according to one United expert working for a national newspaper, former Red Devils chief David Gill has previously told his Benfica counterparts to stop fabricating the stories. This time, though, the popular and trusted Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that talks have taken place. It still seems unlikely, though, that he will arrive at Old Trafford this year. Lazio's Felipe Anderson, who has been linked in the press many times already this summer, has many admirers at Old Trafford and would be a more likely signing than Gaitan.
Another player unlikely to make the switch is Paul Pogba. United have, like every other major club in Europe, been keeping tabs on their former prospect but a combination of factors - including the cost and lingering bad blood - have combined to make a deal almost impossible.
And Woodward will be frustrated in the pursuit of his dream target, too. Manchester United would signGareth Bale today if made available by Real Madrid but their desire to keep him, as well as the player's own determination to stay in Spain and prove himself, mean that a deal this summer is extremely unlikely, even if United could afford to break the world record once again.
Among other targets, Hugo Lloris, Petr Cech and Samir Handanovic (his agent has denied it) have been linked as potential replacements for David de Gea, Ilkay Gundogan seems to have a choice between United and Barcelona, Raphael Varane continues to appeal and Morgan Schneiderlin, given his desire for Champions League football and lack of available midfield targets, is also likely to be of interest.
Reports of a meeting between Woodward and Karim Benzema's agent are understood to be wide of the mark but he would also tempt United if he were made available this summer. The list of strikers goes on, too: Carlos Bacca and Mario Mandzukic have also been in the newspapers.
| PLAYERS WHO COULD LEAVE |
De Gea, as revealed by Goal on Monday, is off. The Spain goalkeeper wants to go back to Real Madrid and everything suggests that United will sell him this summer rather than wait and let him go on a free next year. All that remains to be set is the fee, with United fans hopeful that early reports of a £15m offer are way, way off the mark.
With Falcao's loan move ended so swiftly, many expect Di Maria to leave United this summer too. Both men, who arrived to so much fanfare last year, had difficult seasons at Old Trafford.
But despite repeated links with Paris Saint-Germain (whose attempts to sign him last summer, like Manchester City, were thwarted by FFP), Di Maria is likely to stay in England. He is already showing what he can do while on international duty with Argentina (he scored twice against Costa Rica on Saturday ahead of their Copa America campaign) and would be a real asset next season if he can replicate his best form.
Another man striving to show what he can do for his country this summer is Javier Hernandez. The striker will contest the Gold Cup for Mexico later this summer, having left Real Madrid following a loan spell of his own. He believes that he has a chance to play for United this season, as Van Gaal swells his squad for European competition, and he may be right. The reality, though, is that the Dutchman is waiting to sign other players. Once he does, the Mexican is free to leave. Southampton are big admirers.
Indeed, it promises to be quite a summer of overhaul in the striking department. Robin van Persie has hinted that he could leave and has been linked with Lazio and Juventus in the last few days. The Dutchman was expected to be one of the key men for Van Gaal but struggled with injuries last term and returned to find Wayne Rooney at the centre of the attack.
Any deal is likely to be complicated by his huge wage packet, however. United may be forced, and are willing, to subsidise half of the final year of his contract in order to move him on.
In truth, anything could happen at Old Trafford this summer. A raft of senior players departed last year and round two of Van Gaal's overhaul is set to begin.
Jonny Evans has attracted interest from Everton and could follow Tom Cleverley to Goodison Park for around £10m. Rafael has failed to win the trust of his Dutch manager and will be allowed to leave, whileAdnan Januzaj, so promising under David Moyes, could be offered to Spurs as part of any move for Kane.
Nani will return from his loan at Sporting but will be allowed to go, although like Van Persie his wages will complicate matters - and he has three years left on his deal. Anders Lindegaard will leave despite De Gea's exit and Angelo Henriquez has no future at Old Trafford despite enjoying life on loan at Dinamo Zagreb.
| THE MANAGER |
Van Gaal's first season is hard to sum up. Broadly, it was a success. United finished back in the top four and will now play a qualifier to see if they have made it back to the Champions League proper.
For much of the season, though, United fans were clearly unhappy with the team's style of play and in truth it was a run of just four impressive performances in late March and early April which staved off Liverpool's challenge, earned that top-four finish and perked up fans' expectations. After that, though, they took just five points from a possible 18, losing three on the bounce.
The fine run came to a halt at Stamford Bridge after a number of key players had picked up injuries in the 4-2 victory against Manchester City. With United seeming incapable of playing with the same panache without particular faces in particular spaces, it makes this summer's recruitment drive all the more important.
Crucially, though, Van Gaal is in charge of transfers and United are buying according to his needs, not the need of Ed Woodward to make a statement in the market.
The Dutchman knows exactly what he wants from his players and, if they can be tempted to Old Trafford, then the club should be in a strong position to challenge at the very top of the league, even if champions Chelsea look too strong to be toppled.
His risk-averse style, though, is not that to which United fans are accustomed. If he continues to strangle the life out of games but does not have the firepower to finish off his opponents, he could find himself under pressure by Christmas. That's the lot of the Manchester United manager.
| HOW THEY COULD LINE UP |
As mentioned, anything could happen at Old Trafford this summer so don't be surprised if the somewhat farfetched line-up above trots out at some point in 2015-16.
If not those exact players, it could be any number of others. McNair could be the right-back for the next decade but it is likely that United will look to strengthen in that area this summer, even if the trails currently appear cold.
Gundogan, you would suggest, is more likely to join the European champions than Van Gaal's Old Trafford project - although Barca's interest in Pogba could scupper his plans. With fitness doubts over Van Gaal's preferred targets - Arturo Vidal and Kevin Strootman - a central midfield signing could prove elusive. IfSchneiderlin doesn't arrive, Michael Carrick's importance will shine through once again.
In all likelihood Wayne Rooney will still be leading the line even if Kane arrives - unless Benzema can be prised from Real Madrid. What a mouthwatering striking trio that would be.
Depay, capable of the sublime and the ridiculous, looks set for an intriguing breakthrough season following his move from PSV. Lazio's Felipe Anderson, forced onto the right-hand side, could provide a terrifying threat from the flanks if he is brought in.
Whether Di Maria can find his feet is anybody's guess but his emergence would be a huge boost for United both at home and abroad, as would the continued improvement of Ander Herrera.
All in all, it is set to be a dizzying summer for Manchester United and it is likely to be crucial to Van Gaal's hopes of finishing a distinguished career on a high
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