Ten big summer transfer targets for the new Manchester United manager.
10. Adil Rami (Valencia)
With Nemanja Vidic struggling so badly with injuries over the last couple of seasons, a new centre-back is a priority for David Moyes in this summer’s transfer window. Despite Manchester United winning the title fairly convincingly this season, they conceded a surprisingly high 43 goals, the worst defensive record in the top four, and one of the leakiest defences to ever win the Premier League title. With Rio Ferdinand ageing as well, a long-term solution is needed for this problem, and Adil Rami of Valencia seems a likely target. The Frenchman, 27, is one of the most consistent centre-backs in La Liga, and is also wanted by Arsenal.
He could be available for under £10million, which would be a bargain, and is keen to seal a move to a bigger club to enhance his chances of getting into the French national team in time for next summer’s World Cup. Phil Jagielka from Moyes’ old club Everton has also been linked, but Rami is younger and arguably better, and would surely be available for cheaper.
9. Leighton Baines (Everton)
Everton are understandably keen to hold on to their star players this summer, with David Moyes likely to want to bring them with him to Old Trafford. Leighton Baines is apparently a top target for the new United boss, and it’s not surprising given his fine form this season. The talented left-back has been linked with the club before, and his stock has only risen this year after one of his best seasons in the Premier League. The 28-year-old has a highly impressive five goals and five assists from defence, and is always a threat with his runs down the left-hand side, and his ability to pick out team-mates with a cross.
He would certainly be expensive, but would represent a big improvement on Patrice Evra, whose best days at United look behind him. If Baines has a weakness it is his defensive game, but as United tend to do most of the attacking in most of their games, this might not be such a problem for him if he moves to the Premier League champions.
8. Ezequiel Garay (Benfica)
Sir Alex Ferguson tracked former Real Madrid defender Garay for the best part of a year before he retired from his Old Trafford post and David Moyes will no doubt be similarly keen to beef up a defence that was shaky at times this season and has injury concerns over Nemanja Vidic and clearly can not count on veteran Rio Ferdinand in the long term.
The 26 year old has been in fine form this season but was unable to steer his Lisbon based side to a major trophy success, losing the Primeira Liga title on the last day of the season and failing to overcome Chelsea in a heart breaking Europa League final loss that could well lead the Argentine to be all the more keen on a possible high-profile move to Old Trafford.
Though Moyes can call upon younger defensive options like Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, it’s arguable that both England man are better suited to other roles than at centre-back.
Jonny Evans has matured into a very capable performer by Moyes could well see Garay as a sensible target to chase this summer.
7. Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has emerged as a priority target for Manchester United this summer. With Paul Scholes announcing his retirement, and the likes of Michael Carrick and Anderson not looking like providing enough going forward, a move for the talented Italian international makes sense. A box-to-box player like this is clearly high on the agenda for Moyes, who has also been linked with Marchisio’s Juventus team mate Arturo Vidal, though the Chilean says he is committed to the Italian giants.
Marchisio could still move though, and would cost around £30million to bring to England, after spending his entire career with Juve and being a key player in their consecutive Serie A title wins. The 27-year-old has 8 goals and 4 assists this season, showing he has everything in his locker to give United something a bit extra from the middle of the park. With Juve manager Antonio Conte also reportedly interested in United duo Nani and Javier Hernandez, some kind of swap deal could be on the cards.
6. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
If Everton hold firm and Moyes can’t land Baines to solve his left-back problems, it is also being suggested that he could turn to in-demand Southampton youngster Luke Shaw. The 17-year-old has been in terrific form for the Saints this season in his first season as a first team player, showing himself to be one of the best young players in the country, and a bright English prospect. Coming from Southampton’s youth system, he has inevitably drawn comparisons with Tottenham star Gareth Bale, who also started as an attacking full-back, and Shaw has shown great ability going forward, suggesting that he could move forward in the future.
Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea have all shown a strong interest in Shaw, and manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that his star youngster won’t be sold, but it would still be a move well worth pursuing for Moyes. United have a proud tradition of offering opportunities to young players, and could use that to persuade Shaw that his future lies at Old Trafford. With Patrice Evra on the wane, Shaw could even find himself a first team regular as soon as next season, and it would be a big boost for Moyes to beat his Premier League rivals to such a promising talent.
5. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Another David Moyes raid on Everton could come in the form of midfielder Marouane Fellaini. It has been something of a breakthrough season for the Belgian, who has been used in a more attacking role at Goodison Park, starting the season with a superb individual performance against Manchester United, in which he terrorised their defence throughout and scored the winning goal. The 25-year-old would give United some much-needed physicality in midfield or upfront, wherever Moyes chooses to play him.
Although a very different player from Paul Scholes, he could replace the United legend’s goals and assists with his aerial presence, scoring goals or getting flick-ons from crosses and set pieces. Moyes certainly seems to know how to get the best out of him, and on his day he’s a handful for any Premier League defence. After his displays this season, he is obviously being linked with several big clubs, such as Arsenal and Chelsea, and he will have a number of options if they all choose to activate his very tempting looking minimum release fee clause of £25million, but he would surely be tempted to reunite with Moyes and have a chance to play for the Premier League champions.
4. Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)
With the likes of Nani, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia all having disappointing seasons in terms of providing goals and assists from the flanks, a winger who can contribute more to United’s attack is a must for David Moyes. Nicolas Gaitan has been linked with the club and would apparently welcome a move to the Premier League after an impressive few years with Portuguese side Benfica.
Since joining from Boca Juniors in his native Argentina, Gaitan has managed 17 goals and 38 assists in three seasons, and looks exactly like the kind of player United need. If Robin van Persie can score 30 goals without much help from his attacking midfielders and wingers, think how much he’ll score next season if he’s playing with a talent like Gaitan. At 25 years of age, United would be landing themselves a player approaching his peak, and he could be available for around £25million, which looks a decent price for the Argentine international.
3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
With Wayne Rooney submitting a transfer request, David Moyes is apparently keen on bringing in Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema as a replacement. The talented French finisher was linked with Manchester United when he was a youngster at Lyon, and could now make the move to Old Trafford after falling down in the pecking order at the Berenebeu this season.
It’s been a difficult year for Real Madrid, with struggles on and off the pitch, and Benzema has been one whose confidence has been hit and whose form has been affected. With a flurry of changes expected to take place in Madrid in this summer’s transfer window, it is thought that the 25-year-old could be available for a reasonable price of around £30million. This would be an excellent signing for United, and a perfect complement to Robin van Persie’s abilities. Benzema can play slightly behind the Dutchman or drift into wide areas, as well as take the pressure off their top scorer to get all their goals. Despite not hitting his best form this season, he has still managed an impressive record of 19 goals and 20 assists in all competitions – a vast improvement on most of United’s attackers even if not at the top of his game.
2. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
This would be an ambitious move, but Manchester United are apparently interested in competing with Real Madrid for Tottenham star Gareth Bale. It won’t be easy to compete financially with the Spanish giants, who could offer as much as £70million for the Welshman, and Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas would understandably rather sell Bale abroad than to a Premier League rival, and has vowed to make life very difficult for United to sign him. Still, if Moyes can pull it off he’ll be landing United one of the best players in the world, who would fix their problems out wide and upfront in one go.
After earning a reputation as one of the game’s most frightening wingers, Bale has arguably looked even better this season in a more central role behind the striker, scoring an impressive 26 goals in all competitions, many of them stunning individual efforts either from long range or after taking on numerous opposition defenders. He is undoubtedly a player who needs to be playing on the big stage, and there are few bigger than Old Trafford. And they need a player like him as well, to provide the wow factor that Wayne Rooney is currently unable to do. Moyes should definitely fight Real Madrid all the way for this one.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Rumours are hotting up that one of the most sensational transfer deals of the summer could be on, with Manchester United working to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford after four years at Real Madrid. The Portuguese winger left United for a world record fee of £80million and has looked worth every penny at the Bernebeu, with a phenomenal record of 201 goals in 199 games for the club. However, he is reportedly unhappy in Spain after a difficult season and would welcome a return to his old club.
This signing would of course be more likely if Real Madrid do manage to beat United to the signing of Gareth Bale from Spurs, but I don’t think many United fans will care if they can bring home one of their best players in recent years. The 28-year-old is now probably even better than he was when he left the club and would form a devastating partnership with Robin van Persie. He would certainly not come cheap, and PSG are reportedly willing to pay £84million for him to make him the world’s most expensive ever player again, but it is said that United will offer £60million plus Nani and Javier Hernandez to push the deal through. Whatever it takes, Moyes would instantly make himself a favourite with the fans if he can pull off this fantastic transfer.