Manchester United have endured a frustrating summer in the transfer market, but there’s still time for Jose Mourinho and co. to get it together and make the changes necessary to the squad late on.
While dream moves for big names like Gareth Bale and Robert Lewandowski are now surely out of the question, some more realistic links keep popping up, while a number of unwanted players could also leave to help push things along.
Here’s a look at four names who could be heading out and three perhaps most likely to come in before the transfer deadline next week…
IN – Ivan Rakitic
First up, Don Balon report that Mourinho is eager to sign Ivan Rakitic as a specific target to improve his midfield options for the season ahead.
The experienced Croatia international seems an ideal fit for the way the Portuguese likes his teams to play, and has won the lot with Barcelona in recent years, as well as playing a key role as his country reached their first ever World Cup final this summer.
It remains to be seen if Barca would let such a key player go after already losing Andres Iniesta and Paulinho as options in midfield, but it’s a signing that makes sense for United after Michael Carrick’s retirement.
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Loading ...OUT – Paul Pogba
As also noted by Don Balon, United’s interest in Rakitic comes from Paul Pogba also being lined up in midfield by Barcelona this summer.
It hasn’t worked out for the France international at Old Trafford and playing in a more attack-minded side where he can express himself seems a good move to revive his career.
It remains to be seen if such a high-profile exchange can be sorted out this late on in the transfer window, but we’ve seen stranger things happen!