Old Trafford side set for major squad overhaul and here are eight players who could well usher in a new era of success under Louis van Gaal.
After a disastrous season under David Moyes, one that left Man United without Champions League football for 2013/14, the Old Trafford side have turned to experienced manager Louis van Gaal to repair their reputation.
To aid the Dutchman the Man United board are ready to hand van Gaal as much as £220m to invest in his squad and there are many problem areas the former Barcelona, Ajax and BAyern Munich man may well look to address this summer.
The departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand leaves the club’s central defensive options decimated and there is every chance that veteran Patrice Evra will leave them needing to sign a left-back.
Average seasons for Luis Antonio Valencia, Nani and Ashley Young could also lead van Gaal to pursue wide attacking purchases and less than glorious displays from Tom Cleverley, Darren Fletcher, Micheal Carrick and Marouane Fellaini mean the central midfield area needs improving also.
Whilst Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie may be safe this summer their understudy’s Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck may well feel the need to leave Man United in search of regular first team football they probably deserve for their efforts.
With all that in mind, and perhaps even a decent back-up for keeper David de Gea, here are eight players van Gaal is said to be keen on signing to help Man United mount a Premier League title challenge after last term’s woeful seventh place finish.
30 year old Dutchman knows van Gaal well from both national team and club duty and despite his age the former Chelsea man may be an ideal man to bring in to make an instant impact at Old Trafford.
Far more effective than those wingers currently on Man United’s playing staff and perhaps a player open to a fresh challenge after a hugely successful spell in Germany.
Having won just about everything there is to win at the Allianz Arena maybe the chance to work with van Gaal would act as the incentive needed to push for a Bayern Munich exit.
Pep Guardiola may well be looking to the future and could consider big offers for players in the latter stage of their careers.
Robben has scored an astonishing 89 goals in 166 appearances for Bayern Munich.
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Truly rock solid defender and a player who finds himself at a club who are on the wane.
The 25 year old tasted early success at the Westfalenstadion, winning back to back Bundesliga titles, but his Borussia Dortmund side finished 19 points behind Bayern Munich and then saw their top scorer Robert Lewandowski move to the Allianz Arena.
Hummels could be an ideal replacement for Nemanja Vidic and is a no-nonsense tireless performer who could well suit life in the Premier League.
If Man United lose Patrice Evra, and that’s looking increasing likely as no new deal has been penned by the soon to be out of contract Frenchman, then England teenager Luke Shaw could be the ideal man to fill his spot.
Signing the Southampton man won’t be cheap, in fact it could cost as much as £30m to bring in the 18 year old with the Saints no doubt mindful of the £85m Tottenham raked in from the sale of Gareth Bale last summer.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Similar reasoning to Man United’s interest in Robben, Man United need to not only plan for the long term but need instant success for they can not afford another season without Champions League action.
A move for Schweinsteiger could provide the spark of real quality Louis van Gaal needs in his Man United midfield, and he’s a player the Dutchman knows well from his time in charge at the Allianz Arena.
There are few more intelligent midfielders in world football and despite all he has already achieved, and the German international is already completed twelve seasons in the Bayern Munich first team, Schweinsteiger is still yet to reach his 30th birthday.
Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad)
A huge wide-attacking prospect and more importantly a winger who can score, which is more than can be said for the likes of Nani, Ashley Young and Luis Antonio Valencia.
The 23 year old French international scored 16 La Liga goals last season, and that’s all the more impressive from a wide role for a club like Real Sociedad.
Griezmann has certainly outgrown his Basque side and a move is likely this summer so could consider a move to Man United.
Man United do not possess and out and out defensive midfielder and though the former Arsenal man hasn’t broken into Barcelona’s first team set-up all that often he is still a very capable uncompromising enforcer who has Premier League experience.
Song’s ability to also fill in centre-back could provide van Gaal with the versatility he is looking for and would then perhaps allow Marouane Fellaini to vacate a holding role that simply does not suit his abilities.
Atletico Madrid finished 2013/14 top of La Liga despite scoring over 20 goals less than rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, the reason they triumphed was their rock solid defence and the success of Diego Simeone’s back-line is more than partly down to Miranda’s efforts.
The 29 year old has been a huge success since moving to the Vicente Calderon three years ago but he still missed out on a spot on Felipe Scolari’s 2014 World Cup squad, a high-profile move to Man United could help him secure a more prominent role in the Brazil national team set-up.
Ajax man has won four successive Eredivisie titles and the 24 year old is an accomplished, and perhaps less pricey, alternative to Luke Shaw as a possible left-back option.
Another player van Gaal knows well and a player who could be ready for a fresh challenge away from the Amsterdam side he has represented since the age of eight.
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