In what would typically be a disappointing result, Manchester United fans in the Football Transfer Tavern are looking beyond the Premier League’s final day 0-0 draw over Hull City and accepting that it has been mission accomplished for Louis van Gaal and his team.
Returning to Champions League football next season – if passing through a qualifier that is – the Red Devils can once more look forward to boasting about this status to supporters of arch-rivals Liverpool while claiming that they now have a better chance of luring the best talents to Old Trafford.
That said, the appointment of van Gaal last summer meant that United could actually go out and land the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao regardless despite their non-European status and with that feat secured this time round in addition to the presence of a leading coach such as LVG, United won’t struggle to strengthen.
Such is the brand and allure of Manchester United worldwide, they have actually already started spending this summer following the capture of Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven and with Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi heavily linked at present, you imagine the Old Trafford entry doors will be gracing many new faces this off-season.
With some reports going as far to claim that Otamendi will be forcing a move from the Mestalla imminently, here are five more United targets who could end up joining him at Old Trafford.
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Click on Wayne Rooney below to reveal the 5 players who could follow Nicolas Otamendi to Manchester United next season.
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Nathaniel Clyne
Despite van Gaal somewhat re-establishing the career of Antonio Valencia at Old Trafford this term, some of our resident Red Devils fans would still love the club to go out and buy a new permanent right back solution.
Valencia is of course a converted winger and with United having already raided Southampton for Luke Shaw’s signature last summer, they see no reason why they can’t return for his former team-mate at St Mary’s, Nathaniel Clyne.
On the international stage, Clyne has just started to establish himself as Roy Hodgson’s favoured first choice option at right back and a transfer to United – and the status this would bring – would surely help him nail him down this spot for the next 8 years or so.
The Daily Star reported last month that Clyne has his heart set on an Old Trafford switch but reports from The Express yesterday claimed that Saints boss Ronald Koeman is hoping that his contractual situation gets resolved as soon as next week. Watch this space.
Hugo Lloris
With David De Gea missing out on making Louis van Gaal’s matchday squad for the final game against Hull City at the weekend through injury, Red Devils fans concede that they may have seen the last of the Spaniard in a United jersey.
Incoming manager at Real Madrid Rafael Benitez will be fully expecting to sign De Gea as his new number one in the coming month or so and when this move comes to avail, van Gaal will have to quickly decide whether Victor Valdes can step up to the plate long-term or whether he needs to sign a high-profile replacement.
There is no doubting that Valdes is a top quality stopper and someone who has played at the very highest level with Barcelona for years on end but the general feeling here in the tavern is that van Gaal should break the bank and pay the £30 million or so it would cost to lure Hugo Lloris from Tottenham.
Red Devils fans have grown used to the incredible performances from De Gea that have saved so many points this term and with Valdes reaching his elder years, they would love somebody like Lloris – still in his prime – to pick up where De Gea left.
Daniel Alves
As discussed previously, Southampton may indeed shock everyone and convince Nathaniel Clyne to remain on the south coast this summer and if this was to be the case, an alternative option at right back could be Daniel Alves.
Linked with the Red Devils for several transfer windows now, the Brazilian international is out of contract at Barcelona in the summer meaning that United could be picking up a vastly experienced pro for nothing.
There is currently a contract wrangle going on at the Catalan club whereby team Barcelona claim that he’s being offered a two-year deal with the prospect of a third year whereas team Alves claim it’s only a one-year deal to be renewed for a second but with the third depending on a set number of appearances.
If an impasse does occur, Manchester United could use this situation to their advantage and with the Red Devils being no strangers to signing high profile world class names such as Falcao and Di Maria in recent times, you could imagine Alves would be interested in joining another of the world’s biggest clubs.
Ilkay Gundogan
Over the last couple of weeks, Manchester United fans have read about this rumour so much that they could be forgiven for thinking that Ilkay Gundogan’s switch to Old Trafford is nothing but a formality. It’s just a matter of when.
The latest scoop from the Daily Star on this potential deal occurring is that United have indeed reached a deal with Borussia Dortmund and that personal terms have been agreed with the German international.
With Depay already in the bag and Gundogan set to follow, two key areas would have been strengthened in quick succession, allowing van Gaal to concentrate on centre back where Otamendi could be the solution as well as the aforementioned right back position, not to mention a new centre forward to replace Falcao.
Saido Berahino
Our resident Red Devils supporters are split on the prospect of signing England Under-21 international Saido Berahino from West Bromwich Albion this summer.
In recent days, the Manchester Evening News reported how both United and Manchester City have been given the green light by Tony Pulis to move for the striker and some by the bar have welcomed this news.
Berahino has struck a lot of goals this term and has proved that he can register against some of the very best sides in the division.
Ironically, in September 2013, Berahino scored a winning goal for Albion at Old Trafford and you’d imagine that if he got his move to a bigger club to aid his development – as referred to controversially by the player himself earlier in the season – he would comfortably work his way into Roy Hodgson’s senior international plans with England.
Surely a sound third choice striking option behind Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, no?
