After the news on the weekend that suggested Louis van Gaal fully backs the decision for Manchester United to re-sign former hero Cristiano Ronaldo (who wouldn’t?), we’re stepping back from this particular Red Devils rumour while concentrating on a few of the others bubbling under the surface.
Last week, Metro sensationally reported that United had agreed terms on a January deal to sign Bayern Munich superstar Arjen Robben with the Dutchman allegedly falling out with team-mate Robert Lewandowski.
With United currently sitting second in the Premier League table and trailing leaders Leicester City by a single point, to sign somebody of the calibre of Robben in the New Year would give the Red Devils an incredible boost and extra belief that they can indeed win the title this term.
Elsewhere, Metro also reported yesterday that Louis van Gaal is keen on making a £25 million bid for West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino.
Missing out on a switch to Tottenham on summer transfer deadline day, Berahino was a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal with Tony Pulis perhaps getting used to life without the England Under-21 international with club record signing Salomon Rondon preferred from the start.
With both Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial missing from Saturday’s victory over Watford, van Gaal was forced to hand a place on the bench to 17-year-old academy striker Marcus Rashford with the Red Devils’ options very limited up top.
So with these rumours doing the rounds at the minute, how would Robben and Berahino fit into United’s starting eleven in January? They may look something like this according to our punters by the bar!
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Click on the image below to reveal the dream Manchester United XI including Arjen Robben and Saido Berahino.
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David De Gea
David De Gea put in another absolutely fantastic display in the United goal at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon, turning a deflected Almen Abdi effort around the post to ultimately keep the Red Devils in the game ahead of their late winner.
Quite simply, if United didn’t have De Gea to call upon over the last couple of season, they’d be half the team with the double Player of the Year stopper boasting the ability to keep United in games for far longer than they might do otherwise.
Signing a new deal at the start of the season following the breaking down of his proposed Real Madrid switch, De Gea is a fan favourite at Old Trafford and who couldn’t love his performances?
Well, apart from Manchester City and Liverpool fans!
Matteo Darmian
Enjoying a steady start to his career at Old Trafford, Matteo Darmian was an unused substitute against Watford with Louis van Gaal favouring the reverted former Hornets hero Ashley Young at right back.
While Darmian might be offended that essentially a left winger was chosen ahead of him as a natural right back, van Gaal has tinkered with his squad a lot this term and we think Darmian hasn’t done bad on the whole.
Solid if not spectacular, United need their fair share of these players to be successful and it’s a case of carry on as you were for the Italian international who the Arsenal away game aside, has done ok.
Chris Smalling
Reborn this season, Chris Smalling is one of the first names down on Louis van Gaal’s team-sheet right now.
The captain whenever Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick aren’t around, ‘Mike Smalling’ as van Gaal names him is an indispensable member of the team with his strength and physical presence setting him apart from the rest.
While Phil Jones has continued to struggle with injury, Smalling has kept himself injury free so far this term while putting in some incredibly mature performances to suggest England might just be ok at the back during Euro 2016 next summer.
Daley Blind
Starting the Watford game at left back, Daley Blind made no fuss yet again as one of those versatile players who will do a relatively solid job wherever he’s deployed on the field.
Playing largely at centre half this term with Phil Jones absent for much of the campaign so far, Blind is a better option at left back for many United supporters with the Dutchman lacking height in a central role.
With Luke Shaw out for the season, it is a straight fight between Blind and Marcos Rojo for the left back slot but in the eyes of van Gaal right now, it is his fellow Dutchman who is more worthy of the starting slot.
Luke Shaw
Suffering that horrific leg break away at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League earlier this season, everybody wishes Luke Shaw the speediest of recoveries.
It’s a huge shame for the England international who was starting to put in a string of top performances reminiscent of his Southampton days that ultimately earned him his huge £27 million transfer to Old Trafford.
The likes of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey have previously proved that you can come back from a leg break a better player and Shaw will be hoping he can follow the Welsh international’s example.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Enjoying his finest moment in a Red Devils jersey so far courtesy of his last gasp winner against Watford on Saturday afternoon, United supporters were delighted to see this big name summer arrival score his first ever Premier League goal.
A calming influence in the Red Devils’ midfield, Louis van Gaal can select from an embarrassment of riches in the central area this term and Schweinsteiger is one of those players that never looks rushed on the ball.
With United being incredibly resilient this term, this is in part down to Schweinsteiger’s grit and determination in midfield and is there many players better and getting it and giving it like the German international does?
Morgan Schneiderlin
Starting alongside Schweinsteiger at the weekend, this is Manchester United’s strongest midfield duo on paper.
Michael Carrick is still around as vice captain of course and although the England international boasts fantastic vision and passing abilities, we’ve gone with Schneiderlin who can do a little bit of everything in midfield.
Not just intent on sitting and shielding the back four, the French international can play out and supplement attacks to boot.
Scoring his solitary United goal in an away victory at Everton earlier this season, the Frenchman will hope he can get a few more this term but he’ll never claim to be a prolific scorer with just 14 goals struck in a 230-league game career at Southampton.
Arjen Robben
The right wing slot goes to the man who has reportedly agreed terms on a January transfer to Manchester United.
If these premature reports turn out to have any hint of truth in them, what a signing Robben would be for the Red Devils in the New Year who would ultimately receive a second wind in the home straight towards the Premier League title.
Now 31-years-old, there’s no signs of Robben slowing down but why would Bayern Munich want to sell unless they have designs on signing a younger German talent for the long-term?
Nevertheless, United fans can dream for now and with the left footed Robben having caused so much damage playing on the right down the years, he’d immediately take the berth from Juan Mata who has in fairness, done well in the position this term.
Wayne Rooney
Receiving plenty of criticism from his own supporters so far this season, it’s been far from vintage for Wayne Rooney whose best moment this term still resides with England and breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record rather than with his club side.
The captain of the United ship of course, Rooney does so much else than goalscoring but that said, even his all-round game hasn’t been up to his usually lofty standards.
While United are keeping clubs shut out at the back with the Red Devils’ defence extremely resilient, you do feel as if Louis van Gaal’s side need to score more if they are to win the title but Rooney won’t be losing his place in the team any time soon given the fact he is, well, Wayne Rooney!
Juan Mata
With potential new signing Arjen Robben taking his place on the right wing, it was a toss up between both Anthony Martial and this man Juan Mata for the left wing.
We’ve gone with the Spaniard simply due to the fact that he’s a fairly regular source of goals but not only that; he’s incredibly experienced in both the Premier League and Champions League, not to mention at international level.
While it was a scintillating start as enjoyed by Anthony Martial, everybody knew his scoring streak was going to come to an end sooner rather than later and with the player still fresh and hungry to learn, we think he could be an extremely effective second-half substitute, much like the original super-sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used to be?
What’s more, Mata is of course United’s designated penalty taker at the moment so he has to be in the starting eleven, right?
Saido Berahino
Having proved he can score against the very best teams in the Premier League so far in his West Bromwich Albion career, Berahino looks like a player who is at least deserving of a shot at an elite English club.
Having seen the likes of Danny Ings secure a summer transfer to Liverpool, Berahino has been doing it for longer in the top flight than the former Burnley man and as we all know, was disappointed to say the least regarding his blocked transfer to Tottenham on summer transfer deadline day.
With Tony Pulis using the England Under-21 international as a second-half substitute against Arsenal on Saturday, perhaps the Baggies boss is getting used to what it feels like with no Berahino from the start with the Welshman favouring club record signing Salomon Rondon up top.
One thing is for sure however; Berahino couldn’t be missing the kind of chance he fluffed at Old Trafford in a 2-0 loss to the Red Devils lately if he wants to ultimately succeed at a top club like United!
