It is a transfer rumour that has come from absolutely nowhere and looks like being Manchester United’s second piece of concrete transfer business this summer.
Yes, Torino’s Italian international right back Matteo Darmian is reportedly closing in on a switch to Old Trafford after the Red Devils agreed a £12.7 million fee with the Serie A club.
While some Red Devils punters in the bar are asking ‘who?’, more informed regulars are reminding them that Darmian was the right back who terrorised England in Italy’s 2-1 triumph over the Three Lions during the group stages of the World Cup in Manaus last summer.
Alongside Antonio Candreva, Darmian was the Azzurri’s other standout player on the night in Brazil with the player revered for his raiding runs up the right flank, attacking in equal measure to his defensive duties.
With Luke Shaw set to improve at left back, the prospect of both him and Darmian attacking from deep in Louis van Gaal’s philosophy seems a fairly excitable prospect.
At this moment our landlord is smirking a little at the fact that a lot of Manchester United fans who didn’t know a lot about Darmian are now claiming to be experts while raving about the deal, much like Liverpool fans with Roberto Firmino a few weeks back!
Nevertheless, with Darmian set to represent capture number two after Memphis Depay, who else could be joining the Italian at Old Trafford this summer?
[ffc-gallery]
Click on the image below to reveal the 5 players to follow Matteo Darmian to Manchester United this summer.
[/ffc-gallery]
Morgan Schneiderlin
It seems a matter of when and not if regarding the Morgan Schneiderlin deal now.
Despite seeing a bid knocked back by Southampton yesterday, everybody in the tavern still suspects that the Saints are simply playing hard ball ahead of reluctantly selling their prized asset to Manchester United.
We’ve already seen earlier this summer that Ronald Koeman rebuffed an initial approach from Liverpool for Nathaniel Clyne only for the south coast club to sell him for an improved £12.5 million fee a few weeks later and this is what we expect to happen with Schneiderlin, albeit for a larger fee.
United seem to have dragged their heels so far during the summer transfer window but if they can add Schneiderlin’s signature to both Depay’s and Darmian’s, they would’ve enjoyed something of a successful window.
Harry Kane
Although he seems to appear somewhat beyond his best, this didn’t stop Manchester United fans reacting with some level of surprise this past weekend when they read that some bookmakers had suspended betting on Robin van Persie joining Fenerbahce this summer.
With Nani completing a move to the Turkish club recently, it appears as if RVP could be following him and if so, this would only heighten Louis van Gaal’s need to land another striker to boost his frontline.
In truth, United needed another forward anyway given they lost Radamel Falcao at the end of a forgettable loan spell last season and with the likes of Jackson Martinez and Carlos Bacca having already been snapped up, top level strikers are in increasingly short supply.
This has led our punters to speculate whether United will be forced to panic buy a striker nearer the end of the window and you can’t rule out the prospect of Louis van Gaal splashing the cash to land Tottenham talisman Harry Kane.
Spurs have proved to be a selling club in the past if the price is right and if this deal came to avail, it would certainly be one of the biggest of the summer alongside Raheem Sterling’s much anticipated transfer to Manchester City.
Jasper Cillessen
News hit the tavern yesterday that FC Porto are closing in on a switch for Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas, thus meaning that the David De Gea transfer to the Bernabeu is all set to take place.
Manchester United fans have subjected themselves to the fact that they will undoubtedly lose their Spanish talisman this summer and with Victor Valdes anticipated to remain a number two option, the Red Devils will need a new top level number one choice.
At one point this summer, it had looked as if United were focusing their attentions on Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris but with that rumour having subsided of late, perhaps the Red Devils will go for somebody Louis van Gaal knows well in Ajax’s Jasper Cillessen.
Cillessen was van Gaal’s first choice when managing the Netherlands at last summer’s World Cup and according to Metro, Ajax has already reportedly agreed to sell him for the £17.8 asking price this transfer window.
Ajax are ultimately a club that despite their rich history, sell their best players when Europe’s bigger fish come calling and United could do a lot worse than Cillessen as a De Gea replacement.
Nicolas Otamendi
We had thought that a United move for Nicolas Otamendi had gone dead but according to today’s Metro, United are re-opening fresh transfer talks with the La Liga club regarding a move.
United desperately need to land another centre back this summer with Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones all having a mistake in their locker and Otamendi has recently returned to Spain after being a losing finalist with Argentina in the Copa America that was won by Chile on Saturday night.
Otamendi is 27-years-old and in the peak of his career and we had thought that Manchester City were keen on hijacking a deal for the Argentine last week.
However, it appears United are back in the mix after toiling with a proposed transfer for Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos but we feel this transfer will run and run until the window closes.
Perhaps new surprise Valencia first team coach Phil Neville can have a word with Otamendi, United fans by the bar wonder?
Sergio Ramos
We mentioned him on our previous slide and depending on the media outlet you obtain your transfer rumours from, the future of Sergio Ramos is anyone’s guess at the moment.
With the player himself stating that all was well at Real Madrid a few days ago, publications such as the Daily Star go as far to claim that a United deal has already been done for Sergio Ramos.
We are still incredibly sceptical at this point but if a deal for Sergio Ramos could be agreed, he would be a wonderful signing for the Red Devils while immediately improving their defensive prospects.
One thing we are sure about is that it will either be Otamendi or Ramos arriving at Old Trafford this summer in a case of one or the other arriving and although both are great players, United fans are hoping it is the latter defender who becomes the latest Red Devil.
