Will Louis van Gaal finally bring Kevin Strootman to
Old Trafford, and can the Red Devils avoid losing youngsters James
Wilson and Paddy McNair on free transfers?
| WHAT'S THE BUDGET? |
Ed Woodward has told investors that January signings are unlikely, but that seems to be because he does not believe the top targets will be available.
There is a feeling that should a priority player - such as Kevin Strootman - become available, the funds would be there for Van Gaal.
United are looking good for a top-four finish this season, though the club's financial forecasts were based on finishing third... and they still predicted losses. It means there is an element of risk in any January deals: try to get through to May with what they have and hope Van Gaal can work his magic, or speculate further in the transfer market and impact further on the profit margins.
Depending on your viewpoint, the massive summer outlay, plus the £37 million (€47.5m) spent on Juan Mata last January, suggests either that there is money going spare, or that spending needs to be reined in until June.
Either way, United do have money and Woodward knows the risks implicit in spending more than they can generate. While there are no figures readily available, you get the feeling that one big purchase could be on the cards if it represents value for money.
| WHAT'S THE MANAGER SAID? |
Van Gaal has said nothing, and will say nothing.
Throughout the summer he was asked about transfer targets, and each time the rough response was, "I shall not discuss that with you. I discuss that with my CEO and not with anyone of the media."
He has kept that up into the season, no matter who the player is.
Van Gaal, though, is not beyond discussing transfer targets. He just wants to catch you off guard with it. On the eve of the Premier League season he said, unprompted: "We don't have wingers of the highest level, like Ronaldo or Di Maria or somebody like that." Not long afterwards, Di Maria was strutting his stuff as Old Trafford.
So when Van Gaal name-checked Arturo Vidal heading into the final week of the transfer window, tongues started wagging.
The moral of the story here is, don't ask Van Gaal about January signings, wait for him to tell you.
| WHO'S COMING IN? |
Kevin Strootman was a Van Gaal target as far back as last summer, and Goal understands he has maintained his interest throughout the current season.
Towards the end of the transfer window he decided that, rather than press ahead with plans for Nigel de Jong after being rebuffed for Arturo Vidal, he would wait to see how Strootman recovered from his long-term knee injury.
Talk in Italy over Christmas has suggested that Roma could be willing to let him go in January given their Champions League exit, despite initially claiming they wanted €100m for him.
Elsewhere, United have been linked with an interest in Atletico Madrid centre-back Diego Godin, while Mats Hummels is another summer target who continues to be linked with Old Trafford, as well as Arsenal.
It would be unlikely if Hummels, a firm fan favourite, abandoned Borussia Dortmund in the middle of their crisis season.
The truth is that United have been linked with a whole host of players, and with good reason. The club needs defenders, have a lot money and are keen to spend it. They will have scouts all over Europe monitoring scores of players, and many of them will be discussed within the corridors of power.
To that end, Gerard Pique is another who has been linked, though he has spoken of his desire to stay at Barcelona.
Anybody expecting Gareth Bale to up sticks and exchange Madrid for Manchester should think again.
| WHO'S ON THEIR WAY OUT? |
A raft of players have contracts which are expiring next summer, and with United usually offering new deals at this time of year it really is make or break for many.
Anders Lindegaard will be shown the door either in January or in the summer, and the club would surely prefer to get rid of him this winter to extract maximum value.
The club's three senior centre-backs - Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans - are all out of contract in 2016, though given the lack of cover at the back they are unlikely to be allowed to leave unless they receive a generous offer and a top-class replacement can be brought in in the coming weeks. On the whole you would have to say it's unlikely.
Rafael's contract is also up in 2016 and he is more likely to leave after failing to break into the first team thanks to injuries, although Van Gaal was never convinced of his abilities from the outset.
Goal understands United will offer Robin van Persie new terms to extend his stay at the club beyond 2016, though the future of Jesse Lingard is less certain. The youngster started the Red Devils' first game of the season but was taken off through injury in the first half, and has not featured since. He is also a free agent in 18 months' time.
Michael Carrick's deal is up at the end of the current season but he will most likely be handed a renewal given Van Gaal considers him his vice-captain, though Anderson is likely to leave on a free in the summer unless a buyer can be found in the interim.
Curiously, James Wilson and Paddy McNair are out of contract in June and would be free to talk to foreign clubs from January 1. It is unlikely either would choose to leave Old Trafford given Van Gaal's faith in them, and Goal understands the club have been in talks with McNair, and Tyler Blackett, for the last month.
Although negotiations have not yet begun with Wilson, they are scheduled for the New Year and it is understood the club are not concerned about losing him.
0 comments:
Post a Comment