It’s been a good couple of weeks for Manchester United fans, who have had an entire international break to bask in the glory of beating their bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield – and opening up a five point gap in the race for a top four finish in the process.
Manchester United fans have not become used to seeing their side challenge for the top four and seeing that as their prime objective for the season.
In the days of Sir Alex Ferguson it was all about a clean sweep of trophies, but times have changed, and the Louis van Gaal ‘project’ is well and truly underway.
Nobody spent more money last summer than the Dutchman on new additions, with the likes of Luke Shaw, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera all arriving in deals worth £30million or more.
Van Gaal is set to spend big again this summer as he looks to take United to the next level, but after a couple of transfer clangers already, we have identified five targets he would do well to avoid.
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Click on Louis van Gaal to reveal 5 Manchester United transfer targets to avoid this summer
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Danny Ings
Everyone has been impressed with the debut season Danny Ings has enjoyed in the Premier League, but we feel speculation linking him with Manchester United may have come a bit soon.
When you consider the big names United have head leading the line down the years, Ings would surely feel out of his depth were he to sign at Old Trafford having had just one season at the highest level.
If United are looking to give young British talent a chance, then James Wilson should be used more often next season, a homegrown talent who has shown flashes of what he can do when given the opportunity this season.
Dani Alves
The Brazilian is set to leave Barcelona in the summer, having fallen out of favour at the Nou Camp under Luis Enrique.
It is no secret Alves is looking for one final big pay day, and United seem the club most capable of providing it.
Now 31, it seems as though Alves’ best days may be behind him. United have also been linked with Nathaniel Clyne, a young player who has excelled at right back for Southampton and has broken into the England squad this term.
He would represent a longer term investment, and for a fraction of the wages Alves and his ex-wife/agent (weird) are said to be demanding.
Fabio Coentrao
The Portuguese left back has been talking up the prospect of a summer move to Manchester United, claiming it would be a ‘dream’ to walk out at Old Trafford next season.
Quite why United would feel the need to sign another left back is beyond anyone however, with the club having spent more than a combined total of £50million on Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo last summer, all players who are more than capable of filling the role.
Coentrao has been out of favour at the Bernabeu for a long time now, and his attempts to engineer a move to Old Trafford have surely come too late.
Sami Khedira
The German is another who has been attempting to engineer a move away from Real Madrid for some time.
His stock rose after being an important part of the German squad that won the World Cup last summer, and Manchester United have been mentioned alongside Arsenal and Chelsea as a possible summer destination.
Khedira is a clever defensive midfielder in a similar mould to Michael Carrick however, when United would be better suited looking for an all action player the likes of William Carvalho, Kevin Strootman and Paul Pogba.
A move for the German would simply mean Louis van Gaal has missed out on his top midfield targets.
Ron Vlaar
Reports linking Ron Vlaar with a move to Manchester United have been consistent since his performances under Louis van Gaal for the Netherlands during last summer’s World Cup.
United have been short of numbers at centre back, and the Dutchman appeared to be a solid short term solution – a player van Gaal knows well with an abundance of Premier League experience.
Vlaar quite simply looked a completely different player at the World Cup, and has since returned to his shaky self in a struggling Villa side.
A move for him in the summer would once again indicate United have missed out on their top targets, with Simon Kjaer of Lille and Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund thought to be the first choice candidates to fill the voids left by Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic last summer.
