It’s been a strange season for Manchester United fans in the Transfer Tavern to keep up with, as rumours begin to mount regarding a replacement for manager Louis Van Gaal but the Dutchman’s side have performed well on the field.
Heading into the back-end of the season, United are chasing two avenues to potential Champions League qualification as they’re still within reach of the Premier League’s top-four and advancement to the Round of 16 in the Europa League gives them a chance of success in that tournament.
Despite the improvements under Van Gaal, many in the bar believe that the Dutchman still has to be sent on his way this summer- particularly with Chelsea getting a new boss, Pep Guardiola leading Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp making an impression at Liverpool.
It seems that former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will be the man to succeed Van Gaal at Old Trafford- and the latest reports suggest he’ll bring Italian ace Domenico Berardi with him, with the Red Devils beating off a host of rivals for the winger’s signature.
The reports of a double-deal have really whet the appetite of the Mancunians gathered by the pool table and they’re now discussing who else could arrive this summer.
Hit Berardi below to see FIVE players who could follow him at Mourinho to Man United!
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Karim Bellarabi
The German international seems to be on the shopping list for many sides this summer, with Manchester United’s arch-rivals Liverpool also looking to secure a deal for Bayer Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi. However, the Red Devils will fight tooth and nail for his signature.
25-year-old Bellarabi has bags of pace, which could add a new dimension to United’s attack, and his eye for goal would also prove to be a quality asset. The difficulty though would be persuading the player not to join-up with compatriot Jurgen Klopp.
With things so tight, it could therefore come down to European football so it gives another angle to the exciting Europa League clash between the Reds and United next week.
Jordi N’Goula
The young Barcelona talent reportedly has a release clause of just £2.6m and Manchester United, along with fellow Premier League duo Arsenal and Chelsea, have already begun talks with the representatives of the 16-year-old.
A product of Barcelona’s prestigious La Masia academy, having spent six-years in Catalonia, N’Goula’s footballing development will have been solid and United scouts were impressed with what they saw in a training session last week.
Whether United can beat their rivals to this addition remains to be seen but they’ll certainly give it their all.
James Rodriguez
The dream signing this summer, and one that could genuinely take place, would see James Rodriguez depart Real Madrid for Manchester United. Whilst that may seem like the plot for a fantasy novel, the truth is that a deal is increasingly likely to take place.
Rodriguez has failed to make a claim for a regular first-team spot at the Santiago Bernabeu this season and, as such, it’s heavily reported that he will make way to free space for incoming arrivals- which could include Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
At 24-years-old, Rodriguez still has plenty to offer and he’s proved himself at the highest level already- which means there’s seemingly no negatives to this potential recruit.
Gonzalo Higuain
Another big-money signing on the cards is that of Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, with the latest reports circling stating that Manchester United are more than happy to match the Italian side’s price-tag of £62m for the Argentine forward.
Higuain has excelled in his three-years in Naples but the Italian side have struggled to show signs of progression, having failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League and facing a stern test to assure themselves of a spot next year.
The Argentine striker has heavily been linked with a move to the Premier League in the past and now 28, this could be his final chance.
Aymeric Laporte
Manchester United seem set to rival Pep Guardiola and Manchester City for the signature of long-term target Aymeric Laporte, who is widely regarded as one of the best defensive talents in Spanish football outside of the top-three clubs.
The Athletic Bilbao man, who turns 22 in May, already has a wealth of experience having featured in the Champions League and Europa League, whilst he goes toe-to-toe with the array of attacking talent in La Liga every week.
With a reported release clause of a whopping €50m, Laporte’s signature will not come cheap and United will know how difficult it is to negotiate a deal with the Basque giants due to their signing of Ander Herrera previously.
