In celebratory mood after achieving an opening day win, not to mention watching both Arsenal and Chelsea drop some early points, our Manchester United fans in the Football Transfer Tavern are loving life right now.
They’re mood has been improved even further however with the news in Metro today that claims Lazio’s Argentine international midfielder Lucas Biglia has agreed terms on a switch to Old Trafford.
At this point, our resident Red Devils fans are wondering whether Louis van Gaal has designs on playing Biglia as a centre back given the embarrassment of riches United boast in central midfield right now.
At present, United can call upon Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera in the middle of the park and now it looks as if Biglia will be joining them.
United fans are of course very happy because the Argentine is a quality player but in the back of their minds, they’re wondering just when van Gaal is going to address his striker shortfall, issues at central defence and potentially a new signing to cover for David De Gea.
We suppose it is a sign of the times that despite having already signed five players this summer, United appear as if they’re in no mood to cease their spending at present.
With this in mind, we’ve devised a list of five players who could end up following Lucas Biglia to Old Trafford in the remainder of the transfer window.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 players to follow Lucas Biglia to Manchester United this summer.
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Pedro
We think it is only a matter of time before United conclude a deal to sign Pedro from Barcelona after the Spanish international became accustomed to elongated periods on the bench behind Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi of course.
Metro have even gone as far to claim that Pedro has already completed one part of his medical prior to his Old Trafford switch and it accurate, Louis van Gaal has worked wonders to get a replacement in for Angel Di Maria right away.
While a lot is made of United making a £15 million or so loss on Di Maria following his £44.3 million switch to Paris Saint-Germain, managing to secure Pedro for the reported £24.7 million looks like sound business to us.
He’ll just have to go about impressing for the entire season and not just in the first half of one like Di Maria last term.
Jasper Cillessen
While new boy Sergio Romero enjoyed a comfortable debut in between the sticks against Tottenham in the early kick-off on Saturday, the feeling is that United will move for another goalkeeper with Victor Valdes and Anders Lindegaard potentially set to depart, not to mention a loan move for Sam Johnstone perhaps.
But really, despite Romero’s first performance in goal, a high level replacement is really sought for David De Gea whose future is still very much up in the air.
If you were a betting man right now, you’d place money on De Gea eventually getting a Real Madrid switch this summer, taking Keylor Navas’ number one shirt with van Gaal needing to move fast for a replacement.
That man is rumoured to be Ajax stopper and Netherlands number one Jasper Cillessen who has of course just missed out on Champions League football this term after the Amsterdam giants’ shock elimination from the qualifiers at the hands of Rapid Vienna.
You’d imagine that may be a reason for Cillessen to now jump ship but according to the Daily Star, Frank de Boer and Ajax are looking to hold United to ransom by demanding more than £25 million for his services.
If you thought the Harry Kane rumours had now died down for the summer, you’d be mistaken.
While Tottenham fans will still claim you’re deluded if you think Spurs will sell Kane this summer, The Mirror are among those that continue to spout that United are weighing up a swoop for the England international which we imagine would cost around the £40 million mark.
In truth, both Spurs and United are lacking in striking options right now and for Tottenham to sell Kane with just Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado left represents an unthinkable scenario.
You’d imagine Daniel Levy is smarter than that but in the past, we’ve seen that Spurs are a selling club but just imagine the statement that this would send out regarding Tottenham’s ambition.
Stefan de Vrij
Still yet to add any new defenders to his ranks this summer apart from the capture of Matteo Darmian of course, Louis van Gaal has recently admitted that he’d like to add a top quality centre back to his ranks this summer.
Clearly a hard position to find reinforcements for at the moment, the Sergio Ramos swoop has now failed and United have been mulling over alternatives such as this guy, Stefan de Vrij.
Known from van Gaal’s time in charge of the Netherlands, de Vrij is currently at Lazio like Biglia and back in July, The Express claimed the Rome giants had rejected a £42.5 million double swoop for the Red Devils for both de Vrij’s signature plus Felipe Anderson.
With an interest in de Vrij clearly apparent, we wonder whether United will cheekily enquire about his availability and asking price once more while negotiating for his team-mate Biglia.
Nicolas Otamendi
Yes, it’s him again Manchester United fans.
Just when you thought that the Red Devils had given up hope of landing the Argentine international this summer, Soccerlens are among those that boldly claim the Valencia centre back wants a United switch.
In fairness to the story, all along we’ve imagined that Otamendi would like to better himself at one of the world’s biggest clubs such as Manchester United; the only problem that remains is that Valencia are intent on playing hardball.
With Louis van Gaal having publicly admitted that he’d like another top quality defender this summer, we’re not ruling out one last take it or leave it offer for Otamendi’s services.
