This week in the Football Transfer Tavern, our resident Manchester United fans have been swotting up on incoming arrival Matteo Darmian so that our landlord can’t make jibes that they’re simply jumping on the bandwagon in pretending to know all there is to know about the Italian international.
Darmian is arriving from Torino and will undoubtedly be Louis van Gaal’s first choice selection at right back and if the truth be told, Manchester United fans were starting to get worried regarding the Red Devils’ lack of arrivals so far this summer.
With numerous positions yet to strengthen and the likes of Robin van Persie departing to Fenerbahce, on the face of it right now, United need another centre back, another centre midfielder and probably two strikers.
We had thought that United would be in for a goalkeeper too to replace the departing David De Gea but it is increasingly looking like Victor Valdes will be their new number one for the forthcoming 2015/16 campaign.
So with quite a lot of transfer activity expected at Old Trafford yet, our landlord has been talking to United fans regarding who exactly they’d like to see fill those aforementioned areas before the window slams shut at the start of September.
Here’s the missing jigsaw piece-type signings that United fans came up with. Do you agree with their selections?
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 final jigsaw piece signings for Manchester United to seal this summer.
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Harry Kane
Our resident Manchester United fans are taunting our Tottenham supporting ones that they should be living in fear right now.
With Robin van Persie departing to Fenerbahce and Radamel Falcao having already returned to Monaco before joining Chelsea on loan of course, it’s only Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez who remain as recognised first team forwards at Old Trafford.
Factor into the equation as well that Louis van Gaal doesn’t really fancy Hernandez who is interesting Sevilla at the moment and you can surmise that the Red Devils’ boss is making room for a big money striking import.
Towards the start of the transfer window, a lot was made of Manchester United’s public interest in Harry Kane with sources such as The Express claiming the Red Devils have designs on tempting Spurs with a huge £40 million bid for the England international.
Spurs have proved in the past that they’re a selling club but this time, there would surely be a revolt if they sold the best thing since Gareth Bale?
This will be one to watch but with top strikers a rare commodity this window, a United swoop for Kane can’t be ruled out.
Morgan Schneiderlin
United have already seen one bid turned down by Southampton for the services of their prized asset of a midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and we fully expect the Red Devils to return with an improved bid.
The Saints were believed to have rejected a bid worth £20 million for the French international with the south coast club holding out for £25 million and as we saw with Liverpool and Nathaniel Clyne that the Reds saw a £10 million bid for the defender turned down before a £12.5 million one was accepted.
We fully expect United and van Gaal to improve their bid towards the £25 million mark for Schneiderlin who will add competition for places alongside the likes of Daley Blind, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini.
Arsenal were expected to be in for Schneiderlin’s signature this summer but with the Gunners yet to table a bid, it seems United have a clear run at signing him but it appears Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger is perhaps swaying their attention somewhat.
What we are sure about is that it will be one of either Schneiderlin or Schweinsteiger arriving at Old Trafford this summer.
Nicolas Otamendi
He’s been a name that Manchester United fans are almost sick of hearing here in the tavern but the Nicolas Otamendi transfer saga rumbles on with a vengeance.
According to a report by the International Business Times today, Manchester United could have now overcome a major hurdle in their efforts to sign the Argentine centre back after Real Madrid pulled out of the race to land the Valencia man.
The same reports claim United are now working on finalising a deal for former FC Porto defender Otamendi who would undoubtedly improve their back line while getting the chance to play with international team-mate Marcos Rojo at club level too.
It remains to be seen how much Otamendi would cost but what we do know is that he has a £35 million buy-out clause at the Mestalla at present.
Karim Benzema
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have been calling Karim Benzema repeatedly this summer as the papers are claiming right now but you can’t rule Manchester United out in making a late swoop for his services also.
At present, you can’t see Benzema departing the Bernabeu any time soon with Real Madrid yet to fomalise their interest in Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, not to mention their forward ranks being very light at present following the loan return of Javier Hernandez to Manchester United.
There had been talk that new Real boss Rafael Benitez had designs on deploying Cristiano Ronaldo as a centre forward next term but this remains to be seen.
If there is some truth in this angle however, perhaps there would be some leeway in Real Madrid thinking about parting with their French international late in the window.
We saw in the summer of 2013 that Mesut Ozil suddenly became available for transfer right at the end of the transfer window and perhaps Benzema could be following suit this time around.
One thing is for sure; both Arsenal and Manchester United will be right at the front of the queue if this does come to fruition.
Sergio Ramos
He has represented one of the talking points of the summer but as it stands, Manchester United fans are no closer to finding out whether Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos will be trading the Bernabeu for Old Trafford this summer.
A couple of weeks ago, the Spaniard reportedly claimed that he wants to become a Manchester United player next season but ever since, we’ve heard counter claims that all is well at Real Madrid at present.
The Spanish international is currently away on holiday in Ibiza and our resident Red Devils have taken their eye off this rumour somewhat, knowing full well that it will run and run until the summer transfer window is over.
One thing’s for sure; if United do end up completing a deal for Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi as is reportedly the case, perhaps this will signal defeat in their pursuit of Ramos.
With Chris Smalling improving towards the end of last season and Phil Jones penning a new deal of course, perhaps it is only one new central defender arriving in Otamendi rather than two that now seems an unrealistic prospect.
