United boss to spend big on struggling team when transfer window re-opens.
Manchester United manager David Moyes has put together a five-man shortlist of his main priorities for this January’s transfer window as he seeks to improve his club’s fortunes on the pitch, CaughtOffside can reveal.
United slumped to their third league defeat of the season on Saturday in a shock 2-1 home loss to West Brom, leaving them eight points behind current Premier League table-toppers Arsenal, and giving the club their worst start for 24 years.
With Moyes taking on the difficult task of replacing the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson after his retirement in May, the club are now set to back him in the transfer market to make the required improvements to key areas of the team’s squad, and will hope to aid the Scot in landing these five big-name players.
Eliaquim Mangala (Porto)
After United’s defence were badly exposed in defeats to both Manchester City and West Brom, Moyes is said to be ready to step up his interest in promising Porto starlet Eliaquim Mangala to shore things up at the back. The 22-year-old Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in the world and had attracted strong interest from a whole host of top European clubs this summer, including Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona. United were also linked as admirers of his, and will spend big to bring him to Old Trafford in the middle of the season.
Mangala reportedly has a minimum release clause of around £40m, and though Moyes will hope to persuade Porto to sell for slightly under that, the Scot may be willing to meet that clause in order to land this top defensive target, who could go on to be a great signing for the club for many years to come. Moyes will look at United’s £28m signing of Rio Ferdinand over a decade ago and see how well that particular big investment paid off for his predecessor Ferguson, with Mangala showing similar potential to be a great of his generation.
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Unconvinced by both Patrice Evra and Alexander Buttner, Moyes is also keen to bring in a new left-back this January, and looks to have switched his focus from Everton’s Leighton Baines to Southampton’s exciting youngster Luke Shaw. The 18-year-old has made highly impressive strides over the last year or so, and has already found himself linked with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Compared with a young Gareth Bale, Shaw’s attacking ability from the back will be highly appealing to Moyes and to United fans, and of course Shaw could prove a useful component in improving the side’s defensive displays as well, with the ageing Evra no longer looking capable of dealing with the league’s best wingers and Buttner looking somewhat lazy in his defensive duties.
Shaw could cost over £20m, though Moyes will not be deterred in his quest to land one of the country’s best young talents, as he could be willing to pay as much as £25m to bring Shaw to Old Trafford.
Ross Barkley (Everton)
United were linked with a large number of new midfielders over the summer before eventually signing Marouane Fellaini from Everton for £27.5m, though they still look short in that position due to some disappointing displays from Anderson and Tom Cleverley. It now seems probable that Fellaini’s former Toffees team-mate Ross Barkley will be one of three main candidates to improve Moyes’ midfield in January, after the 19-year-old has enjoyed a tremendous start to the season.
Barkley has already earned his first cap for England after his impressive performances for Everton, and United will likely face competition from Chelsea for his signature in the next transfer window, as the youngster looks like becoming one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League over the next few years. Able to play as a box-to-box player, his all-round abilities will go some way to replacing the influence of the recently-retired Paul Scholes, as well as adding some much-needed bite to United’s midfield.
Although this highly promising starlet won’t come cheap, valued already at around £20m, he is another player with great potential that United are willing to fork out big money for.
Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid)
With United also lacking in the wide areas, Moyes could also look to shift the ever-disappointing Ashley Young this January and replace him with impressive Atletico Madrid winger Arda Turan. The Turkish international has been a top performer for Diego Simeone’s side over the last couple of seasons, and his fine form has seen him linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in recent times, with the player himself hinting that he would be keen on playing in England.
A skillful winger with a great record for providing assists, Turan would surely become an instant starter for United, whose current attacking options in that area have been disappointing for the last year or so now. The 26-year-old has recently signed a new contract with Atletico, though this is likely only to ensure the club can command a buy-out clause fee of over £30m for him, as they fully expect more interest to come in for him this January.
Although United will no doubt face competition for his signature, Moyes will be determined to win the race for this talented attacker as he looks to save his side’s title chances.
Javier Pastore (PSG)
Finally, Moyes will look to step up his interest in out-of-favour PSG star Javier Pastore. The Argentine has shown himself to be one of the top playmakers in Europe in recent years, though he has fallen out of favour in the star-studded squad at Parc des Princes under new manager Laurent Blanc this season.
United will now hope to take full advantage of Pastore’s situation, and beat the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea to his signature this January, as the 24-year-old looks like one of the best players available to replace the creativity of Paul Scholes in the Red Devils’ midfield, with great technique and an eye for a pass.
Having missed out on so many top players in this position during the summer, including Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas, Moyes will be hoping to land his man this time, and the United board will give him the sufficient financial backing to ensure top targets aren’t missed out on again.