The general consensus amongst our Manchester United fans here in the Football Transfer Tavern is that everything is starting to come to boil rather nicely for Louis van Gaal and his Old Trafford philosophy.
Having qualified for the Champions League again at the first attempt under their incoming Dutch manager, the rebuilding process has began and you feel that United will finish much closer to the likes of Chelsea next season with van Gaal a year wiser in English football.
When you also consider that United have already managed to prise away one the most exciting young players in world football in Memphis Depay, you can understand the excitement that is starting to build around the Red Devils’ 2015/16 campaign.
You’d imagine that United will manage to negotiate the Champions League play-off round with relative ease but in order to hit the ground running and not give any impetus to their title rivals, some more squad strengthening simply has to take place you feel.
United’s spine could still do with some improvements with David De Gea’s future reportedly elsewhere and Chris Smalling anything but the finished article despite improving towards the latter part of the 2014/15 campaign.
Ahead of that, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera impressed while you’ll always know you’ll get from Wayne Rooney but Robin van Persie needs a good start to 2015/16 to prove he isn’t finished as a world class striker just yet.
All of this has got us thinking just who are the transfer targets that Manchester United simply cannot afford to lose out on this summer?
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 transfer targets Manchester United can’t afford to lose out on this summer.
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Hugo Lloris
After a slow start to life at Old Trafford, David De Gea is now quite rightly billed as one of top three goalkeepers in world football but he seemingly won’t be continuing his scintillating form at Old Trafford.
The sad thing for United fans is that when Real Madrid publicly decide to pursue a player, they often get their own way and Los Blancos have been anything but quiet in their public admiration of the Spanish international.
With De Gea secretly keen on heading back to the city of his birth to boot, Louis van Gaal will have a decision to make regarding his new number one.
We finally saw glimpses of Victor Valdes in action at the end of 2014/15 but the Spaniard was still somewhat shaky after such a long spell out of first team football.
The consensus amongst our resident Red Devils supporters is that van Gaal breaks the bank for a truly world class goalkeeper in Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris.
While United’s interest in Lloris isn’t concrete as yet, don’t rule out future headlines as the summer drags on following De Gea’s departure and Tottenham have proved in the past that if the price is right, they do sell their prized assets.
Ilkay Gundogan
The speculation linking German international Ilkay Gundogan with a summer switch to Old Trafford has died down somewhat in recent weeks but you’d imagine Louis van Gaal is still keen to get a deal done.
With Michael Carrick reaching the latter years of his professional career, the feeling is that Manchester United could do with another midfield addition and one of the box-to-box variety as well with Daley Blind a capable first team option in the anchor role.
Gundogan is an energetic player who can be deployed in all of the central midfield positions and recently made his first appearance back in the Germany squad during their emphatic 7-0 victory over Gibraltar this past weekend in the European Qualifiers.
His current club Borussia Dortmund have already gone public in claiming Gundogan is set to leave this summer and the latest from the Daily Mail is that he is still United’s number one target this summer following Depay’s arrival.
Arsenal and Barcelona are still being mentioned as alternative destinations for the German however so United must move quick you feel.
Nicolas Otamendi
For some time now, United fans have been calling for Louis van Gaal to improve his options in central defence with Marcos Rojo having endured multiple spells out with injury, not to mention the jury still being out on the long-term capabilities of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
With Jonny Evans interesting Aston Villa and potentially subject to the chop this summer, Manchester United will need to bring in another central defender and all the rumours seem to point towards a swoop for Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi.
The Argentine international has been highly rated ever since his days at Porto but the latest is that Valencia still haven’t received any approach from the Red Devils regarding Otamendi’s signature.
The defender is actually away in Chile representing Argentina in the Copa America at present and we have seen in the past that it is difficult to get deals done while players are still performing in competitive fixtures.
Perhaps this is one to watch following the conclusion of Argentina’s involvement in the competition.
Nathaniel Clyne
At present, it seems that the future of Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne will be decided in a straight fight between both Manchester United and their old foes Liverpool for his signature.
While the Saints would of course love to keep him at St Mary’s this summer, the punters reckon a bid of £15 million would prove too tempting for Ronald Koeman to turn down.
Liverpool have of course already seen a bid of £10 million turned down for Clyne’s signature but with Rafael and Antonio Valencia not representing dream options at right back, United fans would love to see them beating Brendan Rodgers to a deal.
Some reports also claim United hold the upper hand in negotiations to boot with Luke Shaw’s transfer to Old Trafford last summer going relatively smoothly compared to Liverpool’s triple raids for Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana.
This will be one to watch but is also a transfer that United can’t afford to lose out on with Clyne’s attacking prowess down the right flank representing a favourable option in Louis van Gaal’s preferred system.
Harry Kane
The longest shot of the lot in terms of sealing a transfer away from his current club but if there is any smidgen of a chance that Kane could be leaving White Hart Lane this summer, surely Manchester United have to take it?
Football moves quickly and while Robin van Persie was the man a few seasons ago and also at the World Cup, his stock fell somewhat last season while the likes of Kane burst onto the scene in tremendous fashion.
Phil Neville endorsed a potential switch recently and claimed United fans would love to see a British core remain in the Red Devils squad and who wouldn’t want Harry Kane’s goals and excellent movement in their side?
Having struck 21 Premier League goals last season and against top sides like Chelsea and Arsenal to boot, there is no doubting that Kane is a player on the rise, much like Gareth Bale before him.
We’re not saying for one second that this deal will come to avail but if there was a hint of a chance that Daniel Levy may be willing to cash in this summer, Manchester United should take that opportunity while no doubt boosting their goals per game ratio in the process.
One thing is for sure however; it would rock football if United did indeed manage to prise away both Lloris and Kane from Spurs in one single summer!
