Sunday’s Manchester United transfer gossip: Louis van Gaal is close to signing Stefan de Vrij and has renewed his interest in Thomas Vermaelen, while United are preparing a £30m offer for Juan Cuadrado; plus more…
Read more Manchester United transfer news.
Bid imminent for £30m World Cup star Juan Cuadrado
Manchester United are set to launch a £30m bid for Colombia’s World Cup star Juan Cuadrado.
The 26-year-old winger currently plays for Italian side Fiorentina, for whom he has scored 16 goals in 68 Serie A appearances.
Cuadrado was in impressive form at this summer’s 2014 FIFA World Cup as his team reached the quarter-final stage, only to exit the competition against hosts Brazil. The player scored one and assisted four more goals during the tournament.
Louis van Gaal closing in on centre-back Stefan de Vrij
The Daily Mirror is reporting that Louis van Gaal hopes to make his former international defender Stefan de Vrij his first signing at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old played in all seven of the Netherlands World Cup games as LVG’s side finished third at the tournament, and scored one of the five goals in the Dutch’s group game thrashing of Spain.
The Feyenoord defender is resisting a move to Lazio and believes he will soon be reunited with his Holland World Cup boss. He is seen as the perfect alternative to United’s No.1 target Mats Hummels, who has no intention of leaving Borussia Dortmund.
AC Milan are interested in signing Manchester United winger Nani
AC Milan have laughed off Manchester United’s £11m asking prce for Nani, but do remain interested in the Portuguese winger.
The Daily Express are reporting that Milan are the latest side to express an interest in signing the 27-year-old this summer but are not impressed with United’s valuation of the player.
Reports in Italy suggest that United are still demanding £11m for the former Sporting Lisbon star despite Nani playing only sporadically last season.
United preparing to increase offer for Thomas Vermaelen
The Daily Star are reporting that Manchester United are set to return to Arsenal in an attempt to persuade them into the sale of long-term target Thomas Vermaelen, who is valued at around £10m.
The Gunners rejected United’s opening offer of £6m but the Old Trafford club are con?dent their planned new bid will succeed, with Louis van Gaal desperate to recruit the Belgian international.
Van Gaal is in the market for a centre-back but Vermaelen would also provide cover at left-back for Luke Shaw, 19, with Patrice Evra, 33, expected to join Juventus. And as Vermaelen, 28, has only a year remaining on his contract and is no longer an automatic ?rst choice at The Emirates, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expected to sanction the deal.
Denis Irwin promises that Luke Shaw will be a success
Denis Irwin has spoken to BBC Sport of his admiration for Manchester United’s new signing, left-back Luke Shaw, who completed his big-money move from Southampton last month.
Irwin said: “”He has pace, is great going forward and is still only young. He is going to be a fantastic signing for years to come. Market forces dictate what you have to pay for players and there was talk of Chelsea being in for him.
“”We have to accept he will make mistakes defensively. But he has been playing in the Premier League for the last two years with Southampton and he is only going to get better.”
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