The landlord here in the Football Transfer Tavern has just sent out a batch order requesting some new bar mats given the fact our current ones are all scrawled over with dream starting elevens for various teams next season.
This is a summer ritual here in the tavern with supporters often wielding their biros to map out just how exactly their sides could be looking next season with new faces lining up alongside trusted club legends.
As our resident cleaner sweeps their way through the bar collecting the old beer mats, he notices that many Manchester United fans have been in of late.
Find more Red Devils XI’s than most, it is rather interesting to see who United fans are holding out hope of signing this summer transfer window.
With Memphis Depay already in the bag of course, it appears United fans still want a fair few million spent before September comes around with David De Gea on course to sign for Real Madrid, a new right back needing to be sought, let alone another midfielder and striker.
Dutch arrival Depay cost a huge £31 million but don’t for one second think that this fee has put Louis van Gaal off spending more with the Red Devils boss having broke the bank last time around to land Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw.
Before our cleaner throws out our Red Devils scrawled beer mats, he is sharing one of the punters’ XI’s with you guys. Do you agree with their selections?
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Click on the image below to reveal the dream starting XI for Man United under LVG next season.
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Hugo Lloris
With David De Gea still very much fancied to complete his anticipated switch to Real Madrid despite some initial hold up, Manchester United will be needing to source a new number one.
With Victor Valdes set to remain a second choice yet again next season, the expectation is that United will be moving for Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris with Metro going as far to claim that the path has already been cleared for the Frenchman to sign for £17.8 million last week.
Lloris is a like-for-like replacement for De Gea given the fact the pair are undoubtedly world class and we have seen in the past that if the price is right, Tottenham are willing to sell to Manchester United. Just ask Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov!
If Lloris is successfully signed, imagine the cheek of then submitting a bid for Harry Kane! Can you imagine the drama?
Seamus Coleman
For a time, it looked as if Manchester United could be making a play for Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne this summer but with the England international closing on a £12.5 million move to Liverpool, United will need to look elsewhere.
The problem is that Rafael is too injury prone whereas Antonio Valencia isn’t a right back by trade so this is an area in which most Red Devils fans would like to see Louis van Gaal strengthen this summer.
You thought this rumour had finally subsided but it’s back with a vengeance following the Clyne developments with Everton’s Seamus Coleman now being linked with an Old Trafford switch – again.
One of the truly bargain buys of the Premier League era, Coleman has improved massively season upon season and is rightly considered one of the best right backs in England’s top flight.
United have often been met with a tough stance from the Toffees regarding the sale of their Irish defender and it remains to be seen how many millions it would take to prise him away from Goodison Park this time around.
Marcos Rojo
United fans didn’t get to see as much of Marcos Rojo as they would’ve liked in his debut season last term but the expectation is that they’ll be seeing a lot more of the Argentine in 2015/16.
Currently performing at left back for Argentina in the Copa America, Rojo is a versatile pro but given the series of failures from the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, United fans would like to see van Gaal deploy Rojo at centre back long-term.
A tough character, when he did play last term, Rojo looked a capable pro who went about his work rather well for a player who was enjoying his first season in English football.
Only set to improve after a year’s experience in the Premier League, United fans are hopeful that Rojo will go from strength to strength.
Nicolas Otamendi
How nice it would’ve been for both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to successfully marshal United’s back four after Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic’s departures but the fact is that they both don’t look ready at present.
Alternatively, United fans are pining for an Argentine centre back pairing of Marcos Rojo and this man – Nicolas Otamendi.
The Valencia centre back is also away at the Copa America at present and has been linked with an Old Trafford switch all summer so far but the latest is that Manchester City are keen on hijacking a deal for the talented defender.
Otamendi has built up some valuable experience in Europe, particularly during his time spent at Porto with the feeling amongst Red Devils fans that he’d have an instant impact at Old Trafford.
Argentine footballers have succeeded in English football in the past but one thing is for sure; he’d cost a hell of a lot more than Gabriel Heinze did!
Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford, such was the expectation following his £27 million move from Southampton, but the feeling is that he’ll get better and better with time.
With Louis van Gaal often selecting to go with wing backs last term, it was Ashley Young who flourished in the role and although he did well last season, United fans ultimately think better players deserve a place in a so-called dream eleven.
Shaw makes the cut simply born out of the fact that if he reaches his potential yet again, United could have a defender that is set to be a part of the first team picture at the club for the next 10 years.
Able to bomb on down the left flank with his pace, Shaw is an exciting player that represents the modern breed of full back.
United fans are hoping that they’ll see the best of the England international next season.
Daley Blind
What a seamless transition into English football it was for Daley Blind in his debut season last term.
A vital cog in Louis van Gaal’s philosophy, Blind sat in front of the back four admirably last season, providing calm assurance on the ball while breaking up opposition attacks.
One of the unsung heroes in this Manchester United team, Blind gets the Red Devils’ dirty work done with no fuss and even managed to pop up with an important goal away at West Ham United last term.
Capable of playing at left back and centre back as well, players such as Blind are worth their weight in gold in respect of their versatility and adaptability when other players are injured.
United fans look forward to seeing Blind do his thing again next season.
Ander Herrera
Somebody else who looks a fantastic signing alongside Daley Blind is Ander Herrera who with each passing week in the Premier League looked an astute acquisition.
Something of a pass master, Herrera is on his way to becoming the complete midfielder in respect of defending and attacking in equal measure.
The Spaniard is yet to win a full senior international cap for his country and he’ll look to make a dent in Vicente del Bosque’s plans ahead of Euro 2016 with some continued improving performances at Old Trafford next term.
Slight and tricky, Herrera knows how to get out of a tight situation and lets his passing and intricacy do the talking.
There will be no shifting him from this dream United XI just yet.
Morgan Schneiderlin
He had looked odds on to be joining Arsenal but now the expectation is that Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin will be joining Manchester United.
With Arturo Vidal now being rumoured as the midfield addition that Arsene Wenger will be making this summer, Schneiderlin’s path to Old Trafford looks clearer than ever with the Red Devils expected to pay £25 million for the French international.
United have also been linked with a swoop for Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger this summer but after Franz Beckenbauer warned the German international off a move last week, this transfer always looked something of a long shot.
With no rival interest in Schneiderlin, it seems that a United switch is now a formality with Red Devils fans able to add him to their real life eleven in the next few weeks or so.
Juan Mata
Juan Mata makes the cut in this dream eleven ahead of big money arrival Angel Di Maria simply born out of the fact that he is now scaling the heights he once set at Chelsea.
A double club player of the year with the Blues, Mata signalled his re-emergence as a player following that scintillating display away at arch-rivals Liverpool last term where the Spaniard bagged a fantastic brace on the day.
Scoring that majestic scissor volley, Mata has steadily improved and started to become the player we all thought he would be at Old Trafford.
For a time, it looked as if despite being a top player, it simply wouldn’t work out for Mata in Manchester but he has gone about turning it around in spectacular goalscoring fashion.
He also gets to play in his much favoured number 10 position in our dream XI too – a mark of his improvement.
Memphis Depay
United’s sole signing of the summer so far but a player who will be getting Red Devils’ fans bums off their seats next season, that’s for sure.
Memphis Depay is quite rightly billed as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe with the 21-year-old boasting a fine goalscoring record in the Eredivisie, not to mention a wicked ability from free kicks.
Taking up a withdrawn left centre forward’s role in our dream XI, it remains to be seen where Louis van Gaal will deploy Depay but this is certainly a position he can play as seen during his time performing at last summer’s World Cup.
Capable of playing here or wider on the right or left flank, Depay is quick too and United fans have grown used to their fair share of flair wingers down the years haven’t they?
Just look at Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo for starters!
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney was the subject of deployment in multiple positions under Louis van Gaal last term.
Having been played as a lone frontman, not to mention in a withdrawn number 10 role, there is no denying that the England international’s best position is right up top.
With Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao having been missing either due to injuries or bad form, Rooney was reinstated as the club’s main striker as the season went on and Red Devils fans weren’t left in any doubt that this is the position in which he should be playing week in, week out.
Striking 12 Premier League goals last term, there will be an onus on Rooney to get far more if United truly have designs on winning the title in Louis van Gaal’s second season but with Rooney, he gives you so much more than goalscoring alone.
Still a winner, Rooney’s tenacity sets him apart as somebody that still fully merits their place in our dream XI.
