A look at five targets the Old Trafford side could look to add to his squad this January.
Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund)
With Manchester United looking vulnerable in defence in their last few games, David Moyes could do well to find a player to help tighten things up at the back for his side. The out-of-form Nemanja Vidic has become a target for AC Milan and if he continues playing like this it may be tempting to sell the veteran Serbian and bring in some fresh blood.
Another Serbian, Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic is supposedly United’s top defensive target this January, and rumours have sprung that the 24-year-old could move to Old Trafford as part of a swap deal involving Shinji Kagawa, who is keen to return to his old club after failing to establish himself in the Premier League since his move in the summer of 2012.
This move could benefit both parties, and Subotic is certainly a fine player capable of adapting to a more challenging league. However, United will have to hope the swap deal with Kagawa works out, as Bayern Munich are also targeting Subotic as another high class addition to their squad.
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
After missing out on the likes of Leighton Baines and Fabio Coentrao to solve their left-back problem during the summer, Manchester United could now turn their attention to exciting Southampton youngster Luke Shaw when the transfer window re-opens in January. The 18-year-old looks an outstanding prospect having made his first-team breakthrough for the Saints when he was just 17 last season, and could be a great long-term replacement for Patrice Evra in that position.
United are said to be willing to pay as much as £25m to land this quality attacking full-back, who has already drawn comparisons with a young Gareth Bale and as such attracted attention from the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham, who will surely be in for him this January as well and provide some competition to United as they look to bring in one of their top targets.
Although Baines could certainly still be on United’s radar, Shaw is arguably the player with greater potential, and may be money better spent due to his being ten years younger than the Everton man, who could be past his peak in a couple of years’ time.
Alex Song (Barcelona)
In what would be a slightly controversial move due to Alex Song’s Arsenal connections, Manchester United could make a move for the Barcelona flop this January in a bid to strengthen their midfield further after missing out on so many of their main targets during the summer.
Song has barely featured since making the surprise move to the Nou Camp last summer, but his final season with Arsenal certainly showed plenty of potential, with the Cameroon international adding some fine long-range passing to his game to provide the Gunners with some creativity from deep as well as acting as the main shield to the team’s defence. United are arguably in need of both kinds of midfielders at the moment, with Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini neither defensive nor creative enough to be the first choice pairing for David Moyes at the moment.
Song’s status as a backup player at Barcelona could mean he is one of few of Moyes’ ambitious targets that is actually available for a reasonable price, with the United boss failing in attempts to sign both Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas from the Catalan giants during the summer. Song might not be as glamorous as those two, but he may be a reliable and realistic option for the Red Devils this January.
Ross Barkley (Everton)
After a fantastic start to the season, Everton’s Ross Barkley is the name on everyone’s lips at the moment, and his fine performances have attracted strong interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window. The 19-year-old, already capped for England, looks a superb all-round midfielder capable of providing more energy and quality to United’s midfield, and could be a great long-term investment at around £20m.
Compared with a young Michael Ballack by his manager Roberto Martinez, Barkley could be the perfect long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, as he looks perfectly capable of providing plenty in the way of goals and assists from the middle of the park. As is often the case with young English players, his value is somewhat inflated, which has been said to be putting off Chelsea making their move, but United should be ready to invest big money in the world’s best talent, which Barkley certainly looks like being.
Everton will be hopeful of keeping their prized asset, and won’t want to lose another player to their old manager Moyes at United, with Fellaini making the same move during the summer, but there’s no doubt this would be a great purchase for the Red Devils.
Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
With the likes of Nani, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia continuing to look underwhelming in the wide areas this season for Manchester United, it would not be surprising to see the Premier League champions revive their interest in a quality wide-player, with Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria being linked with the club at several points during the summer transfer window.
The Argentine has been a highly influential player for the Spanish giants since moving to the Bernabeu in 2010, and has all the key ingredients to improve United’s fortunes in that position. There are few better players at running with the ball and frightening full-backs with their skill, and the former Benfica man has great quality in crossing and shooting on his left foot.
With the arrival of Gareth Bale at Real in the summer, Di Maria is another player who, like Mesut Ozil, looked to have his place in the starting lineup under threat. However, unlike Ozil, who joined Arsenal on deadline day, Di Maria has stuck around so far and expressed a desire to remain with Real Madrid for the long run. It may take some work for United to persuade him to move to Old Trafford, but there’s no doubt they would be landing a quality player if they manage it.