As far as transfer rumours go, Manchester United’s seem to have been multiplying by the day here in the Football Transfer Tavern with intense speculation now suggesting the Red Devils aren’t finished with strengthening the goalkeeping department.
As recently as this week, United swooped to sign free agent and Argentine number one Sergio Romero but according to publications such as Metro, they suggest Ajax’s Jasper Cillessen has already told team-mates he’s Old Trafford bound this summer.
Something of a goalkeeping merry-go-round has and potentially will continue taking place this summer with David De Gea much fancied to be joining Real Madrid.
Our Red Devils fans in the tavern thought a swoop was off however when Los Blancos swooped to sign Kiko Casilla from Espanyol, not to mention making Keylor Navas their new number one.
Despite this, De Gea is still being linked with a Bernabeu switch which would suggest Sergio Romero has been brought in as Victor Valdes’ replacement with the former Barcelona stopper irking Louis van Gaal by refusing to play in a recent reserves fixture.
You don’t usually see elite clubs swapping two keepers for two more so often but that’s exactly what could be on the cards this summer with Cillessen being lined up as somebody who like Romero, has previously worked under van Gaal before.
If all of this wasn’t confusing enough, Cillessen is actually suffering from a calf injury at present and given this is the case, perhaps De Gea may have to remain after all.
Taking a break from the goalkeeping situation at the moment, we’re devising a list of five United targets who could be following Cillessen into Old Trafford in the remainder of the summer transfer window.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 players to follow Jasper Cillessen to Manchester United this summer.
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Robert Lewandowski
Now while every man and his dog would consider Robert Lewandowski to be unsellable at Bayern Munich much like Thomas Muller right now given he’s the club’s only recognised out-and-out number nine, he’s still being linked with a summer switch away from the Allianz Arena.
Strange right?
So we’re wondering if the papers know something we don’t or are simply putting two and two together following Louis van Gaal’s recent claims that he has a “surprise” signing up his sleeve.
There is no denying Lewandowski’s prowess and despite some describing the Polish international’s first season at the Bavarian club as difficult, he still managed to bag 17 goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances.
The latest from the Daily Star is that it is Arsenal and not Manchester United who are lining up a shock bid for Lewandowski as a replacement for Karim Benzema and if there’s any chance of him leaving Bayern this summer, United need to be at the front of the queue.
Stefan de Vrij
Now on this one, there are some rather more concrete developments regarding Manchester United’s interest in the Lazio centre half.
According to reports compiled by Forza Italian Football today, Lazio’s club president Claudio Lotito has come out and claimed that the Rome club have turned down a 30 million euro bid from United for Stefan de Vrij.
This would seem to suggest that Louis van Gaal has now deviated his interest away from Nicolas Otamendi to the Dutch international whom he managed at the World Cup in Brazil last summer.
While 30 million euros is a huge amount of money that has reportedly been rejected by the Biancocelesti, with time running out and United still in need of a top centre back, don’t rule out a new higher offer to tempt the Italian clubs’ hand.
Karim Benzema
Much like Robert Lewandowski, it seems rather strange that Karim Benzema is such a figure of transfer speculation right now given the lack of other out-and-out striking options Real Madrid currently boast at their disposal.
On this one, there has been talk that Rafael Benitez will favour playing Cristiano Ronaldo in a central attacker’s role this term and in fairness, he’s done that very thing in pre-season thus far.
Many Arsenal fans think they stand the best chance of landing Benzema who may potentially become surplus to requirements this summer but in reality, you’d imagine Real would need to land a replacement first but who is out there to cover?
Certainly not Juventus’ Fernando Llorente.
Nevertheless, stranger things have happened in football and with both Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria having been deemed surplus to requirements before despite their age and class, perhaps a departure for Benzema can’t be ruled out.
And just imagine if he opted to join United as their “surprise” signing over Arsenal; Gooners would do their nut!
Pedro
Of all of the players on this list, it appears Barcelona’s Pedro is the most likely player to be rocking up at Old Trafford this season.
The fact of the matter is that Angel Di Maria is closing in on his big summer switch to long-term admirers Paris Saint-Germain and with the Argentine having left United’s tour of North America, everything points to a deal being done in the coming days, if not weeks.
With the money that’ll be generated from that sale, expect this to be immediately reinvested in a replacement and in truth, United could do a lot worse than landing Pedro.
Understandably on the substitutes bench behind Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez right now, his situation is extremely unlikely to improve any time soon and the latest from The Express is that a Barca club source is convinced he’s Old Trafford bound for a fee estimated to be £22 million.
Nicolas Otamendi
Oh him again!
Yes, Manchester United fans in the tavern right now are wondering whether United will ever get their hands on Nicolas Otamendi given the hardball stance in which Valencia have been showcasing all summer long.
The actual latest from the Manchester Evening News is that United WON’T be bidding for Otamendi this summer with Sergio Ramos the only real centre back they were interested in acquiring this transfer window.
But how many times before have a club or player gone back on a statement in a transfer window such as that? Just look at Mr indecisive himself Fabian Delph!
Nevertheless, with the Lazio president having confirmed United’s new interest in Stefan de Vrij, perhaps Louis van Gaal has indeed moved his attentions away from Otamendi for good.
Only time will tell.
