Louis van Gaal identifies six big-name targets he’d like to bring to Old Trafford before the summer transfer window closes.
With two weeks left in the summer transfer window it appears Man United boss Louis van Gaal has his heart set on one or two big name captures, his desire to secure such additions all the more relevant given his side’s opening day defeat to Swansea City.
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The Daily Mail has identified six players who are on the Old Trafford wish-list, players who’s combined value is a monumental £158m.
Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon)
Value: £16m
The adaptable Argentine is known to be near the top of Man United’s wish-list with the 24 year old able to provide a much needed option at centre-back whilst also effective as a back-up to summer signing Luke Shaw.
Sporting Lisbon may well be ready to allow the defender to leave with Rojo having already threatened to refuse to train, such is his apparent desire to secure a move to Man United.
Kevin Strootman (AS Roma)
Value: £25m
Powerful Dutch midfielder is currently out with a long term injury but that hasn’t lessened Louis van Gaal’s interest in the former PSV Eindhoven man.
The 24 year old had shown great promise following his move to the Stadio Olimpico and is a player who could offer Man United a steely presence in the centre of the park as well as a real weapon the final third.
Strootman is known for ability to score barn-storming long range efforts and has a great engine.
Angel di Maria (Real Madrid)
Value:£50m
Argentine could be seen as the ‘Marquee’ signing that would offer a better option out wide.
Di Maria saw Gareth Bale arrive at the Bernabeu last summer but the 26 year old former Benfica man still produced the goods.
Despite the Welshman moving to the Spanish capital di Maria still racked up 43 starts in all competitions and actually finished the campaign as the club’s leading assist maker, laying on a whopping 22 assists.
Angel di Maria put in a man of the match display during Real Madrid’s historic Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, bringing up the club’s long awaited tenth success (La Decima) but perhaps the further arrival of James Rodriguez will prove the death knell for the wiry wide-man.
Daley Blind (Ajax)
Value: £17m
Another Dutch international who is seemingly high up on the Old Trafford radar.
Blind can effectively fill a number of roles, most commonly used either at left-back or in a defensive midfield role, and will offer Louis van Gaal genuine strength in depth and is clearly a player he knows well.
The 24 year old has won four successive Eredivisie titles and may feel the time is right for a fresh challenge having represented the Amsterdam side since the age of eight.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Value: £15m
A move for the experienced German this summer seems a bridge too far.
One would have to question why the 30 year would consider leaving the Allianz Arena at this point in his career. The cultured midfielder helped his side secure a second successive Bundesliga title last term and then played a prominent role in Joachim Low’s World Cup winning squad.
Clearly van Gaal knows the player well from his time in charge of Bayern Munich but that seems to be the only ‘hook’ for this particular transfer rumour.
Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
Value: £35m
Man United have been tracking the Chilean pretty much the entire summer but appear no nearer to sealing the deal.
Some sources have suggested that the 27 year old has already agreed personal terms with Man United with a £182k a week deal on the table for the Serie A star and van Gaal may look to the former Bayer Leverkusen man to offer some guile and attacking intent and is looking to make room in his midfield for his arrival.
Vidal has netted 28 goals in 95 Serie A appearances for Juventus, and provided a healthy number of assists to boot, playing a key role in three successive domestic title triumphs.
The departure of boss Antonio Conte could perhaps increase the chances of a possible move to Old Trafford.
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