Double measures are the order of the day for Manchester United supporters here in the Football Transfer Tavern today after their humiliating Champions League group stage exit at the hands of Wolfsburg last night.
Falling into the Europa League wouldn’t have been on Louis van Gaal’s list of priorities at the start of the season and United will now have to juggle Thursday night fixtures with their Premier League campaign in which the club are still in fourth place, just three points off first place.
Naturally, questions have been levelled at United’s Dutch manager who it must be said, has spent an incredible amount of money on the current playing squad he has at his disposal.
Despite splashing huge fees on the likes of Angel Di Maria and Anthony Martial, deficiencies in United’s squad still remain such as up top and at the back. Despite playing last night, United shouldn’t have been relying on the likes of Guillermo Varela, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Nick Powell in such a crunch fixture.
With United still in touching distance of the Premier League summit, it’s incredibly likely that Ed Woodward will again fund Louis van Gaal for potential further big name arrivals in January and with that in mind, we’ve devised a list of the five latest Manchester United transfer rumours that could seriously happen in the near future.
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Click on the image below to reveal the FIVE latest Man United transfer rumours that could seriously happen!
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Lucas Biglia
At the start of the month, talkSPORT reported that Manchester United had been handed a boost in the race to sign this guy, Lucas Biglia.
The boost is the fact that Inter Milan are no longer in the race for Biglia’s signature with United having something of a clear run at landing the player.
The Lazio defensive midfielder is one of the best in the business for his position and the Red Devils have been interested in the Argentine international for some time as somebody who could succeed Michael Carrick for next season if the Geordie enforcer moves on.
In the talkSPORT reports, it was noted that Biglia craves Champions League football with Lazio not at the top table of European football at the moment but with United dropping into the Europa League, this is hardly inspiring.
That said, United are used to spending big bucks nowadays and we think Louis van Gaal could seriously make a move to land Biglia as Carrick’s successor.
Moussa Dembele
While he may not be the immediate answer to United’s troubles up top, this hasn’t stopped the papers linking Fulham whizzkid Moussa Dembele with a move to Old Trafford.
Scoring eight league goals for the Cottagers in the Championship so far this term, the Frenchman has played more of a significant role this season and the fact he is out of contract at the end of the season makes him a very attractive prospect.
The London Evening Standard has reported today that United face competition from Tottenham for Dembele’s signature but United have been tracking him since last summer according to the reports.
Dembele’s signature alone probably won’t appease United supporters in January but if he’s signed alongside an established reinforcement, most fans will probably bill it as good business.
Ayoze Perez
Despite the London Evening Standard reporting recently that Ayoze Perez is happy at Newcastle United, we think that Manchester United could land him if they pushed hard enough in January.
Not a totally established star by any means, landing top level striking reinforcements has proved tough for the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal of late and a project player such as Ayoze could be be a valuable addition.
Not starting against Liverpool for the Magpies at the weekend, Ayoze has been in the team for the most part this term with the Spniard usually the shining light in an otherwise dull season for Steve McClaren’s men.
Still just 22-years-old, it will take a handsome fee to prise him away from St James’ Park but with Newcastle having sold Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy in recent times, when the money has been right, Mike Ashley hasn’t had a problem in letting go of his top performers.
Saido Berahino
Only a substitute for West Bromwich Albion in recent weeks, perhaps Tony Pulis is finally getting used to the idea that Saido Berahino won’t be around long-term.
With club record signing Salomon Rondon getting the go from the off up top, it looks increasingly likely that the Baggies might finally part with their England Under-21 international in January.
Denied a summer transfer deadline day switch to Tottenham, we think United could well be in for Berahino’s signature come January.
A forward who has proved he’s capable of scoring goals against all level of opponents in the Premier League so far, Berahino is still only 22-years-old and would represent a great option for the here and now as well as long-term.
Make no mistake; Albion will probably hold any potential suitor to ransom in January with English players typically transferring for bigger fees but with available top quality strikers a rare commodity, we think van Gaal’s need to land an additional striker is rather urgent with Rooney and Martial hardly prolific.
Paulo Oliveira
Ok so this rumour hasn’t done the rounds so recently here in the Football Transfer Tavern but back in September, the Daily Star claimed that United were lining up a January swoop for this man, Paulo Oliveira.
The Sporting Lisbon centre back is one of the top performers at the Jose Alvalade alongside William Carvalho and the 23-year-old has already been watched by United scouts.
Making the move to the Portuguese capital from Vitoria Guimaraes last year for just £1.2 million, Oliveira’s stock has risen sharply since then and with United’s need for another centre back strong at the moment, we think he could be an option the club will pursue seriously.
Missing out on the likes of Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi in the summer, United have had to play Daley Blind as a centre back a lot this term but more of a natural choice such as Oliveira wouldn’t go amiss with Chris Smalling in need of a top quality partner.
