Alex Song targeted by Louis van Gaal.
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Manchester United are looking for a contingency plan if their prospective deal for Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal falls through, with the Express reporting that the Red Devils are lining up former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song from Barcelona as a possibly alternative to the Chilean.
Song has drifted out of first team contention at the Nou Camp this summer and, despite having returned to training with Barcelona following the World Cup, the Catalan club are unlikely to be averse to allowing Song to leave.
Cameroon international Song was signed for £15m from Arsenal in 2012, having emerged as a fine holding midfielder during his time at the Emirates Stadium, but he struggled to find his way past the likes of Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano and into the Barca first team.
United’s big midfield signing had seemingly been set to be Vidal, but concerns that manager Louis van Gaal holds over the Chilean’s knee may well have put paid to the deal, with Vidal having already had an operation on it this summer.
The report suggests that both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur had previously held an interest in Song, but United now appear to have emerged as the most likely destination for the midfield player.