Manchester United’s transfer dealings in recent years have been awful.
The Red Devils are crying out for a goalscorer – having already had five 0-0 draws this season – yet last summer they sold Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez, who has already netted 20 times for new club Bayer Leverkusen and Mexico this term.
Meanwhile, United’s lack of wingers has seen Louis van Gaal rely on Jesse Lingard, after getting rid of Nani in July and Angel di Maria in August.
Furthermore, LVG’s back four in last weekend’s 2-1 loss at Bournemouth included Guillermo Varela, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Paddy McNair. Who? Exactly!
The simple truth is United should have bought better and not got rid of their former stars so hastily.
Netherlands record-goalscorer Van Persie and 92-time Portugal international Nani are two players who were sold too soon. Both men moved to Fenerbahce, but the duo are now reportedly being targeted by a club in the Far East.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet claim that Shanghai SIPG want to bring the former United pair to the Chinese Super League.
Hurriyet adds that the proposed joint transfer fee is €22m, which converts to just over £16m.
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Considering both players still have what it takes to contribute in the Premier League, it sounds crazy to even think that they could be about to move to China, where the standard of football is historically very poor.
However, Chinese football is on the up.
Shanghai SIPG, who were only formed 10 years ago this month, have a stadium capacity in excess of 56,000. They are coached by former England manager Sven-Goran Ericsson, while their current squad includes Ghana goal machine Asamoah Gyan and Argentine playmaker Dario Conca.
Other players currently in China include the likes of former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho and ex-Chelsea frontman Demba Ba.
If Nani & Robin van Persie hadn’t been sold by Man United this summer, would they be useful squad members now? #MUFC
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) December 19, 2015