An ideal United XI if they land their top targets.
SEE ALSO: The most expensive Premier League transfers ever.
Despite last season’s nightmare under David Moyes, things are already looking more promising for Manchester United under new manager Louis van Gaal, who has a long list of ambitious transfer targets that could still find their way to Old Trafford before the end of the summer transfer window.
Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw have already joined, and further signings all over the pitch are expected. Two or more players could come in in defence, while central and wide midfielders also remain a priority along with a possible new striker to join as well.
Although it is perhaps unlikely that the Red Devils will land all of the players they are currently being linked with, CaughtOffside looks at a mouth-watering starting eleven that van Gaal could field next season if he did have a highly successful transfer window. Even if not all the players added do end up coming in, this lineup gives a flavour of what the club’s fans could be seeing at the Theatre of Dreams in 2014/15.
Goalkeeper and defence:
Top targets: Mehdi Benatia, Mats Hummels, Daley Blind
If Louis van Gaal does play with a back three next season, it could be that the defence will be made up entirely of new signings, with these big names from AS Roma, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax believed to be his main targets in that part of the pitch. In deals worth potentially over £60m, this looks like being money well spent as the club look to rebuild in something of a problem position at the back, with experienced defensive trio Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra all leaving the club at the end of last season. The excellent David de Gea will continue as number one, but with a far improved group of defenders in front of him.
Midfield:
Top targets: Arturo Vidal, Angel Di Maria, Juan Cuadrado
Again an almost entirely new-look section of the team in midfield, as United reportedly target some hugely exciting signings in the form of Juventus star Arturo Vidal, Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria and versatile Fiorentina wide-man Juan Cuadrado. Van Gaal’s five-man midfield should create plenty of room for these new additions to line up alongside fellow new-boy Ander Herrera and last January’s big signing Juan Mata, who will likely be given license to roam nearer the front two. Di Maria may not be ideal as a wing-back, but United can easily shift into more of a 4-4-2 here with Cuadrado dropping back and Blind occupying the left-back slot instead of being one of the three centre-backs.
Attack:
Top targets: Edinson Cavani
An unnecessary signing perhaps given the recent improved form of Wayne Rooney, but Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani has been linked several times with United this summer and could still be on their radar, despite reports of an approach from Arsenal. The prolific Uruguayan became regarded as one of the world’s best strikers at his previous club Napoli, but his slow start to life in France could mean he is allowed to move this summer for around £55m. The 27-year-old could form a deadly partnership with Robin van Persie upfront, and one can only imagine the sheer quantity of goals this side would score with these strike duo feeding off service from the likes of Mata, Vidal and Di Maria.
Manchester United Dream Transfer Window XI in full: