Louis van Gaal’s side spent over £150 million during the summer transfer window.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is set to be given more funds to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window even though the 20 time league champions spent a record amount during the summer, Goal.com reports.
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Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is set to tell investors that the club are so financially healthy they are able to spend big again in January.
This will undoubtedly please manager van Gaal, who is desperate to restructure his squad and make it into a unit that will be able to challenge for honours again.
Although sides usually do their big business in the summer, the Dutchman might not wait that long and could bring in world-class players in January.
Here are five players that United could target.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
It may be a long shot but a return to the Theatre of Dreams may not be out of the question for Cristano Ronaldo. The forward recently said that he would like to move back to Manchester United one day because he loves the club so much.
Although he did also say that he is happy at Real Madrid at the moment, tensions have been high between the club and their star. The Portuguese international recently criticised Los Blancos’ hierarchy because of their decision to sell winger Angel di Maria.
Although the 29-year-old may be interested in a move back to Old Trafford, Madrid are highly unlikely to let their best player go half way through the season unless the Red Devils were to make the Champions League holders an offer they couldn’t refuse.
2. Kevin Strootman
The Dutch midfielder has been on United’s radar for some time with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson considering a bid for him two years ago. Dubbed ”the Dutch Roy Keane”, Strootman is a powerful box to box midfielder, the type of player United desperately need at the moment.
AS Roma would be reluctant to let one of their best players go but with the Red Devils being so financially well off they could make a huge bid for Strootman, something the Italian club wouldn’t be able to turn down.
3. Arturo Vidal
The Chilean midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer with reports suggesting United were willing to pay up to £40 million for the Juventus enforcer.
However, as the transfer window neared its end, van Gaal and his staff seemed to get cold feet and ended their interest in Vidal. This could have been mainly been down to the 27-year-old’s recent problems with injury.
If the Chile international can prove his injury problems are behind him, Van Gaal may reignite his interest in January.
4. Mats Hummels
The German international is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world at the moment. His presence in the Germany defence at the World Cup was one of the reasons Joachim Low’s men came back from Brazil victorious.
Hummels has also been excellent in a Borussia Dortmund shirt for a number of years. That is why the Bundesliga giants are so keen to hold on to the 25-year-old and it is also why Manchester United are so interested in signing him.
The Red Devils defence needs a complete overhaul and van Gaal knows Hummels would be exactly the type of man he could build his defence around. Again, United will have to offer a huge amount if they are to persuade Dortmund to part with one of their prized assets.
5. Marco Reus
Van Gaal is known to love having wingers in his side and Reus is one of the best in the world. Quick, powerful and skillful, he is probably Dortmund’s best player.
That means the German club are highly unlikely to part with the 25-year-old. Jurgen Klopp has already spoken of his desire to see Reus remain at the Signal Iduna Park for many years.
Unfortunately for Dortmund, Reus is yet to sign a new deal. There is a clause in his current contract that says he can leave next summer if a club bids £27.6 million.
The German is certainly worth more than that so the Bundesliga giants may decide to cash in on him if a club like United make a huge offer in January.