At the time this article has been published, Argentine number one and free agent Sergio Romero could’ve already joined Manchester United with many publications claiming a deal was set to be concluded this weekend.
At the start of the summer, Red Devils fans may have thought that the likes of Romero would be coming in to replace David De Gea but with the Spanish international set to remain for at least one more season, the Argentine will be replacing Victor Valdes.
Both Valdes and Louis van Gaal have endured a public falling out after the Spanish number two reportedly refused to take place in a reserves fixture and this understandably irked the Red Devils’ boss.
Romero was most recently at Sampdoria but with the Italian club having released him after a loan spell at Monaco, United will be picking up a goalkeeper who is still, just 28-years-old and who knows, could take over from De Gea as the number one if Real Madrid get their way next summer.
Extremely experienced having played in both a World Cup Final and Copa America Final in the last 18 months, United will be in safe hands if De Gea gets injured this term but at the same time, it must be said that De Gea is extremely consistent.
But with Romero coming in and United still needing to fill a fair few positions, just who else could be following him to Old Trafford? We take a look at five men who could be.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 players to follow Sergio Romero to Manchester United this summer.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
So-called transfer window experts have gone into overdrive following Louis van Gaal’s claim last week that Manchester United have a “surprise” signing up their sleeve this summer.
With United’s attacking ranks looking incredibly light after Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie’s respective departures, everybody is expecting this surprise signing to be a striker.
With United incredibly keen on Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller, the Bavarian giants have since told United to get stuffed so everybody is guessing again.
The latest incredible name to be linked with the Old Trafford switch is Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic who yesterday suggested he’d be open to the switch, yet would clash with Louis van Gaal whom he worked with in his time at Ajax.
Ibrahimovic has been formidable for the French giants despite now being 33-years-old and one man who’d be happy is Edinson Cavani who could finally take up a central striker’s berth if the Swedish icon ended up departing.
Saido Berahino
In his press conference last week, Louis van Gaal noted how his “surprise” striker hasn’t even been talked about by the press as a viable option as yet and that got us wondering, could his swoop be for somebody like Saido Berahino.
Linked primarily with Tottenham so far this transfer window, we’re of the opinion that Berahino is a very promising prospect who could relish in the role of learning further from somebody such as Wayne Rooney.
After all, the player United are bringing in would have to play behind Rooney anyway, wouldn’t they?
Try telling that to Ibrahimovic but we reckon the surprise swoop could be for somebody like Berahino who of course earned his big breakthrough after striking a winning goal against United at Old Trafford for West Bromwich Albion a few season’s back.
Nico Gaitan
He seems to have been linked with a Manchester United switch for as long as Yoann Gourcuff has been with Arsenal but could this summer be the time in which a transfer could finally be completed?
As recently as 13th July, The Telegraph claimed United had agreed a £21 million fee with Benfica to complete the signature of the Argentine international.
The same reports suggested Gaitan’s arrival will make up for the loss of fellow countryman Angel Di Maria who is fully expected to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in the coming weeks and on the face of it, he wouldn’t be a bad replacement.
Only time will tell on this one but with Gaitan having seemingly messed United fans around time and again, our Red Devils contingent by the bar aren’t holding out much hope following these reports.
Nicolas Otamendi
If Manchester United fans were sick of the Nico Gaitan transfer talk, they’re absolutely done with the Nicolas Otamendi rumours that have been dragging on all summer long.
United definitely need another centre back this summer to push through Jonny Evans’ departure from Old Trafford and after Sergio Ramos messed United about, it appears they’ve focused their attentions on the Valencia centre back.
The latest on his situation is that Otamendi’s Valencia team-mate Paco Alcacer has urged the Argentine to remain at the Mestalla this summer while resisting United’s approach.
That said, to us it appears that Otamendi’s head has been turned but Valencia are playing hard-ball and holding out for his buy-out clause to be reached at present.
And let’s face it, with everybody knowing that United now have plenty of millions in the coughers nowadays, who can blame the Spanish club for holding out for the highest fee possible?
Pedro
At the time of writing, the Daily Star had just reported that Manchester United have struck a £22.8 million deal with Barcelona to secure Spanish international winger Pedro this summer.
With this fee triggering Pedro’s release clause at the Camp Nou, if these reports are accurate, it appears everything is pointing towards an Angel Di Maria sale to Paris Saint-Germain.
While United fans will of course look on their record signing with regret, replacing him with Pedro seems fantastic business with the winger probably one of the most underrated players in Europe.
Having been cast in the shadow of the likes of Lionel Messi in years gone by, Manchester United fans will be able to judge him upon his own merits in the Premier League.
